Saturday 5 November 2022 12:49 AM Taronga Zoo reveal how five lions escaped their enclosure in Sydney trends now
Five lions escaped from their enclosure because the fastenings failed on a 'lion-proof' mesh fence used to secure the animals, Sydney's Taronga Zoo has confirmed.
The big cats broke free at the zoo early on Wednesday morning while children from three schools had been camping overnight in tents as part of the 'Zoo Snooz' experience.
It was also revealed two boys from one school were reported missing at a roll call at the time the lions escaped, after teachers and students had scrambled to safe spaces.
The lions will remain in a back-of-house area and appear to have no adverse reaction to the incident (pictured, Taronga lions)
Helicopter footage on the day showed zookeepers and dozens of police inside the lion enclosure inspecting what appeared to be a hole in the fence (pictured)
Zoo staff then risked their lives searching in the grounds for the children, before the pair were found in a bathroom.
They had become separated from their class during the 'code one' emergency - the zoo's most urgent alert warning of a dangerous animal on the loose.
It was activated shortly after 6.30am, when the five lions were first spotted outside their main exhibit - with only a two-metre high fence separating them from the rest of the zoo.
Children and teachers were about to start their day when the alarm rang through, heard by residents in the surrounding area.
'Our staff reacted in a highly professional way to the incident and resolved it quickly,' a zoo spokeswoman said (pictured, staff at the zoo on Wednesday)
Zoo workers escorted them to designated safe places, where it was discovered one student had not
