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WILDLIFE

Lions escape from enclosure in zoo south of Berlin

Two lions broke out of their enclosure in a zoo south of Berlin on Wednesday morning, leading to all visitors being evacuated, local media report.

Published: 6 July 2016 14:38 CEST
Lions escape from enclosure in zoo south of Berlin

The big cats broke out at around 11 am according to Bild, with one of them even making it into an area where visitors are free to enter.

A veterinarian was able to shoot a sedative at the female cat, Gretchen, who was then brought safely back to her enclosure.

The male lion, Massai, was still outside his closure but was in an area which was considered secure.

All visitors were evacuated from the zoo in Baruth, which is situated in Brandenburg around 75 kilometres south of Berlin.

Police and fire services were called into action and have said that at no point were human lives in danger.

It is not clear at this point how the lions managed to escape from their enclosure.

According to the national tabloid, the two cats used to belong to an East German national circus.

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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