People evacuated from Belgian zoo after lion escapes from its cage

Brussels — A zoo in Belgium has been evacuated after a lion escaped from its cage.

Na twee mislukte verdovingspogingen hebben we de ontsnapte leeuwin met een schot moeten laten inslapen. Nooit kwam iemand van bezoekers of personeel in gevaar.

— ZOO Planckendael (@zooplanckendael) June 21, 2018

(After two failed anaesthetic attempts, we had to let the escaped lion sleep. Never did anyone of visitors or staff at risk. — Planckendael Zoo)

Planckendael zoo spokeswoman Ilse Segers said Thursday that the female lion has not got out of the zoo area and that no visitors are in danger.

Segers said “no people have been hurt. The zoo has been evacuated and closed. A veterinarian is currently trying to sedate the lion.”

The lion got out just after opening time so few people were at the zoo, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of the Belgian capital, Brussels.   /vvp