Wednesday 2 November 2022 07:43 PM Taronga Zoo lions escape: Five lions escaped through a fence, forcing Roar and ... trends now
An 'integrity issue' with a containment fence allowed five lions to escape their enclosure, forcing zoo guests staying overnight to flee their accommodation.
Sydney's Taronga Zoo went into lockdown early Wednesday morning after male lion Ato and cubs Khari, Luzuko, Malike and Zuri escaped their enclosure, sparking an emergency response.
A portion of fence and 'digging marks' in the lions' Savannah enclosure are now at the centre of an investigation launched by the zoo.
'The lions are now in a back-of-house holding area while a full review continues,' a zoo statement read on Monday night.
'A full report will now be prepared for the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
'Keepers and vets report all lions are doing well.'
Taronga Zoo staff and police inspect an 'integrity' issue with a fence which allowed five lions to escape their enclosure on Wednesday morning
Roar and Snore guests were locked inside (above) for 90 minutes this morning after being told to flee their tents and leave belongings behind when the five lions escaped after breaching a containment fence
Magnus and Dominique Perri and their young sons Lucas and Oliver were staying in Taronga's Roar and Snore tents when they were woken by the sound of lions roaring and grumbling at about 4am on Wednesday.
With the sounds of the animals promoted as a key part of the experience, Mr Perri said the family quickly went back to sleep, believing the lions were safely locked in their enclosure just metres away.
'It just happened so quickly,' Mr Perri said.
Sydney couple Magnus and Dominique Perri and their young sons Lucas and Oliver (above) were staying in Taronga's Roar and Snore when they were told they had 30 seconds to 'get out' after a lion escape
'They said 'Hurry up! Don't worry about your things. This is a Code One. Get out of your tent. Leave your belongings behind. You have 30 seconds to get out'.'
'People were running out.'
Mr Perri said the family were escorted out along with about 50 other Roar and Snore overnighters to a safe place for the next 90 minutes.
He also said he heard zookeepers yelling 'they're still outside still' until four of the lions returned to the enclosure, and a tranquilizer gun was used to recapture the one that did not.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday morning, Taronga Zoo executive director Simon Duffy confirmed an adult lion and four cubs had escaped at 6.30am.
'The lions were observed in a small area adjacent to
