BHUBANESWAR: A lioness, Supriya, escaped from enclosure 29-B of Nandankanan Zoo here on Tuesday early morning. Following the incident, the Zoo authority evacuated hundreds of visitors and closed the entry gate for the outsiders to avoid danger from the lioness side.
Zoo Director S K Panda said the lioness, living with a lion in the enclosure, might have escaped last night. “Our officials immediately swung into action and closed the entry gate of the Zoo after getting information about the missing of the lioness from the Zoo,” he added.
When the Zoo keeper noticed the absence of the lioness, who went to the enclosure for a routine check up, informed the higher officials about the missing. The authority immediately evacuated the visitors, who had already purchased tickets and entered the zoo.
After three hours of search operation, the lioness was found hiding near a temple behind the enclosure covered with dense forest. A team was formed for the rescue operation immediately, but heavy rains since morning had affected the rescue operation by the forest officials. The officials tried to tranquilize the animal for three times, but failed to capture her. The lioness could not be brought to the Zoo, an official said.
The officials have kept close watch on the area, where the lioness was spotted during the operation. The Zoo officials were in clueless about the lioness’s escape from the heavily wired fencing enclosure.
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