LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A bomb threat at the Louisville Zoo Friday was part of a national hoax.
The "all clear" was given at the Louisville Zoo around 10:20 a.m. Friday after it was evacuated due to a "safety threat."
The zoo was evacuated around 9:30 a.m., posting on Facebook that people were being moved to Joe Creason Park.
Louisville Metro Police confirmed a bomb threat was called in and responded to the zoo to investigate. Around 10:22 a.m., police said nothing was detected and the area is clear.
A spokesperson for the zoo said about 230 people were evacuated, including about 60 staff members.
Since the threat made on May 1, more zoos across the country have received bomb threats and reports of active shooters, prompting evacuations and some closures.
On Sunday, the Associated Press reported the threats were hoaxes, part of nationwide swatting incidents affecting zoos not only in Kentucky but in Ohio, Tennessee, Florida and Arizona.
No explosives or any danger were found from the swatting calls.
The FBI considers swatting a rising problem in the U.S., and even created a national database in 2023 to log swatting calls.
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
