As the Biology Museum opened their doors on Oct.16 to a touring class of local elementary school students, the student-tour guides quickly realized an important and very valuable display was missing.

“We noticed that the leopard skin was missing,” said Carl Johansson, biology instructor in the Math, Science and Engineering Building.

Johansson said the museum was locked up the night before but did not see leopard skin the next morning. The large attraction, which has been the museum since the 1940s, was gone.

“I can’t even speculate, I have no idea,” Johansson said. “Who wants a ratty old leopard skin? It’s just weird.”

He added that only someone who is “completely anti-education and completely selfish” would do something like this.

Johansson said the leopard skin is worth up to “a couple thousand dollars.”

He said the burglars who took the item could find themselves in more trouble than the leopard skin is worth.

“I hope they are not planning on selling it, because if they try, more than likely they are going to end up in a federal offense,” Johansson said.

Brenda Garcia, a nursing student at FCC, said she was shocked that anyone would take the item, and suggested that the museum consider more security.

“Maybe have someone in the room,” Garcia said, “someone guarding.”

Karissa Sanchez, a student, said she doesn’t understand how the leopard skin went missing.

She said, “I think it is ridiculous that they did that.”