China Zoo shuts in panic as Lions escape from cage because cleaner forgot to lock the door

A zoo in China was forced to close after two lions escaped from their unlocked cages.


Riot police, snipers and zoo workers armed with tranquiliser guns worked to capture the ferocious animals after they escaped at the zoo in Chongqing, south west China.

According to reports, the lion and lioness were given free run of the zoo when a keeper who was cleaning their enclosure forgot to lock the gate.

The zoo was completely evacuated following the escape at 8am.

While the lionness was caught within the hour, the male was at large for almost four hours before he was recaptured.

The pair were both unharmed in their capture.
A zoo spokesman said: 'We found the female first and subdued her with a tranquiliser gun but the male took longer to find and bring back.

'They both recovered quickly and are no worse off for their adventure.'
Officials have issued an apology to visitors for the panic caused.
One said: 'You can't blame the lions. It was human error and they naturally took advantage of it.'
Chongqing Zoo houses some 200 different species and around 2,000 different animals in total.
The zoo, which cover 45 hectares of rolling hills and is one of China's biggest urban zoos.
It attracts around a million visitors each year.