One Dead And Many Injured As Escaped Lion From Georgian Zoo Goes On Rampage

A lion which fled its enclosure in Tbilisi Zoo in a Georgian city centre after it was destroyed by heavy flooding, has killed one, and reportedly wounded another person, after escaping from the zoo. According to local media, the lion eluded a citywide search for stray animals because it had been in a warehouse and is yet to be captured by special forces.

Residents had been told to stay indoors after the mass escape, and report any sightings of zoo animals to the authorities. At least 15 people were killed after the torrential downpours on Saturday. The floods turned a stream that runs through Tbilisi into a raging torrent that destroyed houses, tore up roads and carried away cars.

Zoo spokeswoman, Mziya Sharashidze had said eight lions, all seven of the zoo's tigers and at least two of its three jaguars were killed. Only two of the zoo's 14 bears survived, while nine of its 17 penguins died, she added.