Taronga Zoo lion escape: Sydney zoo reveals the way five lions managed to get out of their enclosure

Taronga Zoo has finally revealed that a small opening in a fence was responsible for five lions sneaking out of their enclosure last week.

Sydney Zoo went into lockdown last Wednesday when male lion Ato and 16-month-old cubs Khari, Luzuko, Malike and Zuri emerged from their enclosure, triggering a panic reaction.

The lions were found in an area adjacent to the main exhibit and were safely returned to their exhibit before the zoo opened to the public for the day.

Officials explained in a statement Thursday afternoon that clamps used to connect wire cables together had “failed,” causing a cable to unravel and create a gap in the fence.

Taronga Zoo has revealed that a small opening in a fence last Wednesday allowed five lions to escape from their enclosure (pictured, male lion Ato at the zoo)

The zoo explained in a statement that clamps used to connect wire cables together had “failed,” causing a lace cable to unravel and create a small gap in the fence (pictured)

“Preliminary independent technical advice has confirmed that swages (clamps connecting wire ropes) have failed, allowing a lace-up cable connecting the fencing to a tension rope to unravel,” the statement read.

“The lions were then able to create an opening and squeeze through.”

The zoo’s ongoing investigation into the incident found that the lions had “played and interacted” with the fence for about 20 minutes before breaking it.

Adult male lion Ato led four cubs out of the enclosure while “lioness Maya and one cub chose to remain in the exhibit.”

The pair were later recalled to their burrows by keepers.

An alarm went off at 6:40 am after the lions squeezed through the opening and the zoo was locked.

Two of the cubs then broke through a secondary fence.

The lions had ‘played and interacted’ with the fence for 20 minutes before breaking through it, raising the alarm and locking up the zoo

Male lion Ato led four cubs through the opening in the gate. Two of the cubs then broke through a secondary fence. All lions have been safely returned to their exhibit by staff (stock image)

Families camped overnight in a building near the lion enclosure were escorted to a safe area by staff at Taronga Zoo.

Other staff members used vehicles to “monitor and control the situation” as part of the zoo’s emergency response.

“This allowed keepers to use their relationships with the lions, as well as their training for such incidents, to quietly recall the lions to their exhibit, ensuring a peaceful and safe outcome for all humans and animals,” the zoo said.

“The four other cubs and adult male lion appeared to be calm and explored the other side of the main perimeter fence, within yards of their exhibit, before actively trying to find their way back under the fence.”

The zoo’s investigation into the enclosure breakout, which is still ongoing, has recommended a “tensile construction engineer” to conduct an investigation and provide specialist advice on the fence (photo, police seen at the fence at the lion lookout)

For the two cubs that had passed through the secondary fence, one walked back to their exhibit without a hitch, while the other was sedated by vets and returned.

Taronga Zoo concluded their statement, saying the lions would “remain in an outdoor area in a secret annex pending specialist technical advice.”

Because the lions escaped from their enclosure before the tourist attraction opened its gates for the day, there were only workers around besides the families who camped overnight.

The investigation into how the lions escaped, which is still ongoing, has recommended that an ‘independent tensile structure engineer’ examine the fence and provide specialist advice on how the clamps were broken and how the fence should be secured.