Around 6:30 in the morning, five lions broke out of their enclosure, giving Sydney’s Taronga Zoo a shock. The “Roar and Snore” overnight stay program participants were immediately taken to safety after the zoo issued a code one alert. By 9 am, all five of them had been delivered back to their enclosures .
On a camera recording, the five lions—four cubs and one adult—were seen ambling around. According to the New South Wales state police, Taronga Zoo’s alarm was alerted and officers were sent there shortly after 7 a.m. However, the lions were still in an area separated from the rest of the zoo by a six-foot fence.
Sydney zoo later opened as usual after no reports of human or animal injuries
According to Taronga Zoo Director Simon Duffy, one cub was tranquilized and returned to the enclosure, while the other four made their way back “calmly” to their main exhibit.
“They came running into the tent area saying, ‘this is a Code One, get out of your tent and run, come now and leave your belongings’,” one of the guests told local media.
The zoo later opened as usual after no reports of human or animal injuries.
“The zoo has very strict safety protocols in place for such an incident and immediate action was taken,” Taronga Zoo Executive Director Simon Duffy told a news conference.
A formal review has been launched to understand how the lions managed to escape.
According to its website, the Taronga Zoo is home to seven lions, including five pups and two adults.