The news on Thursday morning caused quite a bit of panic in Berlin and Brandenburg: A free-roaming lioness was sighted in Kleinmachnow. The warning area was extended to the south of Berlin. According to initial assumptions, the lioness escaped from a private enclosure. From which is unknown. One thing is certain: neither the Berlin Zoo nor the animal park are missing a big cat.
The free-roaming lioness raises a number of questions – the most important of which is: Is it even a lioness? The only known video, Christian Kern, Zoological Director of the Berlin Zoo and Tierpark, does not rule out the possibility that it is a lioness. And how do you react when you meet the animal? In an interview with the Berliner Zeitung, Kern says that correct behavior in the event of an encounter with the animal depends on many factors. “Appropriate behavior depends, among other things, on where the animal comes from, how it is socialized and in which situation the encounter between humans and animals takes place.” Anything but simple.
Berlin zoo director: Keep calm when meeting a lioness
It is also complicated which safety distance must be maintained. Sources speak of at least 200 meters, from Kern’s point of view the distance should definitely be 40 to 50 meters. This relatively relaxed situation is different when you are with the wild animal in a confined space, such as a shed, stable or small garden. Then the distance should be sought as quickly as possible, all gates or doors should be closed. In both cases, the police should be alerted immediately. And above all: “Everything calmly, never harass the animal or try to catch it.”
Ad | Scroll to read more
According to Kern, it is difficult to say how the big cat can be caught in the best possible way due to a lack of meaningful information. In principle, there are theoretically three options for catching them: with a large live trap, anesthesia using an appropriate gun or the most severe measure – shooting down.
Lioness is welcome in Berlin zoos
The lioness should not be lacking in survival skills. “According to the assessments of the experts from the zoo and animal park, a lioness would definitely get along in a local forest in the summer months,” explains Kern. One could assume that she would withdraw into the undergrowth and avoid contact with people.
Nevertheless, the gates of the Berlin zoo are open to the cat of prey if it should be captured alive: The zoological director said that a “possible temporary accommodation of the animal in one of the two facilities would be conceivable if this is desired by the authorities”. It remains to be seen whether the three Berlin lions Elsa, Hanna and Mateo will soon have to share their enclosure with a new member of their own species.
The Berliner Zeitung communicated in writing with Christian Kern. He values the gender sign.
2023-07-20 16:20:50
#Lion #search #Berlin #Berlin #Zoo #escaped #big #cat
