Lion escapes animal park in Türkiye's Antalya, injures man, shot dead
Authorities say it is still unclear how the lion got out of its enclosure
A lion that escaped from an animal park in Türkiye's southern Antalya province on Sunday injured a man before being shot dead by authorities, officials said.
The male lion, named Zeus, broke out of its enclosure at the Land of Lions (Aslan Diyari) zoo in the Manavgat district around 3.21 am, according to the Antalya Governor's Office.
The animal attacked a field guard working about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the zoo. The man was taken to the hospital and remains under treatment.
Security forces, including gendarmerie and police units, cordoned off the area around the zoo and restricted access.
The lion fled toward a nearby forest, prompting an extensive search by zoo personnel, the National Parks Directorate, and security teams.
“Due to the danger it posed to people and the environment, and since it could not be safely captured alive, the lion was euthanized,” the governor's office said.
The 6th Regional Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks confirmed that an investigation has been launched to identify those responsible for the negligence.
Manavgat District Governor Adil Karatas said it remains unclear how the lion escaped its enclosure.
Municipal teams removed the animal's body from the forest.
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