Panic in Sydney. On November 2, Taronga Zoo, located in Australia’s most populous city, was the scene of the brief escape of five lions from their enclosure. Within minutes, the place was locked up and visitors and employees took refuge before the cats returned to their lair on their own. Zoo director Simon Duffy spoke of a “significant incident” that would be investigated.
security flaws
A month later, investigations are still ongoing to understand the security breaches that occurred that day. On Thursday, the zoo released a video showing how Luzuko, Zuri, Khari, Malika and their father Ato escaped. After scratching the base of the enclosure, which consists of several Plexiglas panels, they manage to slip under the obstacle before ending up in a second space, also fenced off.
“The five lions calmly ventured a few meters from their enclosure, before trying to go around under the fence because the lioness Maya and the guards called them,” says the zoo, in statements collected by The Guardian.
Minutes after this mishap, Malika had to be treated by the zoo’s emergency service, which calmed her down before putting her back in the enclosure.
The present investigation is carried out in collaboration with an independent and specialized engineer who advised the establishment to equip itself with lattice fencing instead. Pending the conclusions of the investigation, the five fugitives must remain out of sight and will not return to the eyes of visitors until around Christmas.
Source: BFM TV
