Lion cubs play on their birthday, at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, on 12 August 2022. Photo: AFP
Sydney's Taronga Zoo is investigating how five lions escaped from their enclosure this morning, in "a significant incident" that saw staff sent to "safe zones".
Police were called to the sprawling Mosman complex about 7am NSW time after what the zoo described as "an emergency situation" involving one lion and four cubs.
Taronga Zoo's executive director, Simon Duffy, said the lion enclosure had two containment fences, and that the animals breached one of them.
"We don't have the exact details on how and why that occurred, but I would remind everyone that Taronga Zoo itself has its own safety perimeter fence so, at no time did the lions exit that area or exit Taronga Zoo."
Duffy said four of the lions "calmly" made their way back to their main exhibits on their own and "one lion cub was safely tranquillised".
"All animals are now safe in their back of house exhibit and are being monitored," he said.
"We have received video footage and we confirm that it was less than 10 minutes between the lions exiting their main exhibit and the full emergency response being enacted."
Earlier the zoo said it had "strict safety protocols in place for such an incident".
"All persons on site were moved to safe zones and there are no injuries to guests or staff.
"All animals are now in their exhibit where they are being closely monitored."
Once the animals were secured, zoo staff were seen walking the perimeter of the enclosure known, as "Lion Pride Lands".
They appeared to be checking the fence line.
At least seven police officers were also in the enclosure, engaged in conversations with staff.
Taronga Zoo said the zoo would be open as normal today except that the lion enclosure would be off-limits.
In August 2021, Taronga's African lioness Maya gave birth to five cubs, all of which remain at the zoo.
The not-for-profit's harbourside headquarters, which dates to 1916, is among Sydney's favourite tourist attractions, and houses more than 2000 species.
- ABC