Lion escapes Taronga Zoo: Roaring and snoring family ordered to flee tent after animal escapes enclosure

A young family staying overnight at Taronga Zoo was given just 30 seconds to escape its luxury glamping tent after five lions escaped their enclosure just meters from where they were sleeping. I couldn’t get it.

sydney Couple Magnus and Dominic Perry and their young sons Lucas and Oliver heard the zoo’s “roar” and “snoring” around 4 a.m. Wednesday when they were awakened by the sound of lions roaring and grumbling. I was staying in a tent.

With animal sounds touted as a key part of the experience, Perry said the family quickly went back to sleep, believing the lions were safely trapped in their enclosures meters away.

However, less than three hours later, at 6:40 a.m., a blaring alarm sounded throughout the zoo, prompting everyone to evacuate immediately as Taronga Zoo employees ran through the campground and lions were running loose. rice field.

“It happened so quickly,” Perry said.

“They said, ‘Hurry up! Don’t worry about your personal belongings. This is Code One. Get out of the tent and leave your belongings. Get out in 30 seconds.'”

‘We’re running out of people’

The family, along with about 50 other Roar and Snore guests, were escorted to safety for 90 minutes, Perri said.

He also said he heard the keepers yelling “I’m still outside” until four lions returned to their enclosure, and a tranquilizer gun was used to retrieve one that didn’t. .

Taronga Zoo Executive Director Simon Duffy confirmed to media on Wednesday morning that an adult lion and four lion cubs had escaped at 6:30 am.

“The lions were observed in a small area adjacent to the main lion exhibit, where a six-foot fence separated the lions from the rest of the zoo,” zookeepers said.

“The zoo has very strict safety measures in place in case of an accident like this, and action was taken immediately. Four of the lions quietly returned to their main exhibits and dens and the lion cubs One was safely sedated.”

“All animals are now safe in a display behind the house and are closely monitored.”

He added that video footage showed the incident was under control within 10 minutes at 6:50 am.

“This is a serious incident and a full investigation is currently underway to ascertain exactly how the Lions were able to make the main exhibit,” he said.

Code One alarms are reserved in the event of a “dangerous animal” escaping or creating an alarming situation, ordering staff to immediately lock down to a “safe haven”.

Taronga Zoo said in a statement that it would be open as usual today, but the lions would not be on display.

A New South Wales police officer was present at the scene, but confirmed that the zoo was “managing the situation independently.”

Visitors Kirsty, Stuart and Isabel McLaren from Gloucestershire, UK, said they arrived at Taronga when it reopened at 9:30 am and were ready to roam the entire zoo.

“We’re only here to see the koalas,” Kirsty said.

Not far from the zoo’s ferry terminal, the lion escaped the zoo before the gates opened for the day.

Chimpanzee, giraffe and zebra exhibits are also just meters away from the lion enclosure.