27. 08. 12. – 16:41
austrianindependent.com
Lynx escapes from Salzburg zoo
Salzburg zoo has lost a dangerous animal again after a lynx managed to jump over a fence and escape from the zoo yesterday (Sunday).
The zoo has already twice lost cheetahs this year – although all were recaptured without incident.
The Lynx had managed to flee after the three-and-a-half metre high electric fence was left switched off so that no electricity was flowing through it to stop the animal breaking out.
Zoo workers, hunting experts as well as volunteers are searching the area for the runaway one and a half-year-old lynx. Two experts have also travelled in from Germany to help with the search.
A commission set up to investigate how this could happen confirmed the fence had not been live at the time.
Henning Wiesner, former boss of Munich Zoo and leader of the commission, said: “The three-and-a-half metre fence without power was no barrier for the animal.
“Saturday night had been a very stormy night, trees and branches had fallen which had damaged the electric fence, the lynx was then easily able to escape. The animals can easily climb up a fence.”
Salzburg zoo director Sabine Grebner said: “The most important thing at the moment is to catch the runaway animal and let the commission get on with their work. We will then have to see what happens.”
