Lioness escapes at Mirpur zoo, safely returned after hrs

Staff Reporter :

A lioness named Daisy escaped from her enclosure at the National Zoo in Dhaka’s Mirpur area this afternoon, forcing authorities to evacuate all visitors from the premises.

The incident occurred around 4:45 pm, zoo director Rafiqul Islam Talukder told the media.

“The lioness escaped from her cage but remained within a 6-foot-high netting designed to prevent visitors from entering the animal compound.

We administered sedatives, and by 7:20 pm, she was safely returned to her cage,” he said.

According to the director, Daisy had wandered into an area still covered by the zoo’s netted safety system, ensuring that visitors remained out of harm’s way. All visitors present at the time were evacuated as a precaution.

When asked how the lioness managed to escape, the director suggested that the enclosure gate may have been left unlocked.

“There is no sign of a broken or loose grille anywhere,” he added. A committee will be formed tonight to investigate the incident and determine the exact cause.

Currently, Mirpur Zoo houses five lions, and authorities have emphasized that safety measures are being reviewed to prevent any similar incidents in the future.