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German zoo escape: Lions, tigers and jaguar recaptured in Lünebach German zoo says 'escaped' big cats never left enclosures
(1 day later)
Two lions, two tigers and a jaguar that escaped their enclosures at a zoo in western Germany have been recaptured. Two lions, two tigers and a jaguar reported to have escaped from a storm-hit zoo in western Germany never left their enclosures, it has emerged.
The animals were found inside the zoo compound in Lünebach after a search involving a drone, officials told German media. Local residents had earlier been told to stay indoors. A search was launched and residents told to stay indoors after floods swept through the zoo in Lünebach, leaving the animals unaccounted for.
A bear also escaped from the privately owned Eifel zoo, but was shot dead, a local official told AFP. The big cats were found after waters receded - still in their enclosures.
The animals broke out after flooding from a storm damaged their enclosures. A bear that did escape from its enclosure in the privately owned Eifel zoo was shot dead, officials confirmed.
A massive search was then launched involving police, firefighters and veterinarians. Andreas Kruppert, mayor of the municipality of Arzfeld, said zookeepers lost track of the big cats during the storm but later located them, still in their enclosures, with the help of a drone.
Local authorities did not give further details of the recapture but a spokesperson told AFP news agency that the animals were "in their cages". "We are very happy that the scenario we had initially feared didn't turn out to be the case," he told a news conference.
Owned by the Wallpott family, the 30-hectare (74-acre) zoo is home to nearly 400 animals of 60 species, including Siberian tigers and lions. Mr Kruppert said the decision to shoot the bear was made to protect the public.
"As a result of serious flooding the high water pressure on the gate [of the bear enclosure] meant that it gave way," he said.
"As a result, and also in an effort to save itself from the rising water, the bear fled the enclosure on to the path. Emergency responders were already there and because the bear posed a serious threat to the people in the vicinity the bear sadly had to be shot."
He added that flood damage to the zoo was being assessed and animals would be transferred to another zoo if necessary.
The 30-hectare (74-acre) zoo, owned by the Wallpott family, is home to nearly 400 animals of 60 species, including Siberian tigers and lions.
It was first established in 1965 with only dogs, donkeys and a wild boar, according to the zoo's website, and is visited by 70,000 people a year.It was first established in 1965 with only dogs, donkeys and a wild boar, according to the zoo's website, and is visited by 70,000 people a year.
Friday's escape comes two years after two lions broke out of their cages at a zoo in Leipzig in eastern Germany. One was shot dead and the other recaptured. In 2016 two lions broke out of their cages at a zoo in Leipzig in eastern Germany. One was shot dead and the other recaptured.