GERMAN police have halted the search for a suspected lioness roaming the nation's capital - saying it's more than likely to be a common wild BOAR.
Officials advised the residents of Berlin's southern suburbs not to leave their houses on Thursday and to keep their pets indoors as news of the escaped beast filtered throughout the German capital.
Hundreds of officers joined "Operation Lion Hunt" in the capital's southern suburbs but no trace of the animal was found overnight.
And in a press conference on Friday, German cops said "everything indicates it is not a lioness" - and believe the animal in the original amateur video was "with relative certainty" a boar - a common animal that frequents the outskirts of Berlin.
It comes after cops confirmed no paw prints or DNA material - such as animal waste - was found near the area to suggest that it was a lion.
Read our live blog below for the latest updates...
21st Jul 2023, 15:48 By Catherine Micallef
This blog is now closed
Our Berlin lion blog has now been closed.
You can keep up to date with other world news here.
21st Jul 2023, 15:30 By Catherine Micallef
Do NOT approach a hungry lion, says Tiger King star Carole Baskin
Tiger King star Carole Baskin has issued an urgent warning over what to do if you come face-to-face with a hungry lion.
The advice comes as a big cat, believed to be a lioness, is reportedly on the loose in Berlin, Germany.
Find out more below.
21st Jul 2023, 15:00 By Catherine Micallef
Experts called in to identify differences between a lion and a boar
German authorities called in two specialists, "including one from South Africa" to evaluate the video of the so-thought "lioness" received by the police.
The specialists compared the images of lions on the prowl and found a few differences.
Kleinmachnow city spokeswoman Martina Bellack released a statement in which she said: "Both came to the conclusion there was no way it was a lion."
21st Jul 2023, 14:30 By Catherine Micallef
Not the first wild animal set loose in Berlin
This is not the first time Germans have had to be on the lookout for wild animals on the loose.
In May 2023, residents in the central German city of Erfurt were jolted by the sight of a kangaroo hopping across a busy road after escaping from a private property.
Meanwhile, in 2016, German zookeepers had to shoot dead a lion after it escaped from its enclosure in the eastern city of Leipzig and a tranquiliser failed to stop it.
21st Jul 2023, 14:00 By Catherine Micallef
How many people do lions kill every year?
Lions are deemed one of the fiercest, most dangerous creatures in the animal kingdom.
But how many human lives do they take every year?
Lions kill around 250 people each year, according to Statista.
For context, this is half the amount of deaths attributed to hippos.
21st Jul 2023, 13:40 By Catherine Micallef
Police were alerted at midnight
Police were first alerted to the escaped lioness at midnight last night.
"Around midnight, we received a message hard to imagine. Two passersby who saw one animal chasing another," Daniel Keip, Brandenburg police spokesman, told RBB radio.
"One was a wild boar and the other apparently a wild animal, a lioness. The two men recorded a video on their phones and even experienced policemen had to concede that it was probably a lioness," he added.
21st Jul 2023, 13:20 By Catherine Micallef
Kleinmachnow mayor's words
During a press conference held this morning, Kleinmachnow mayor Michael Grubert said: "Everything indicates it is not a lioness."
He added that "with relative certainty" the animal spotted in the original amateur video is a boar.
It comes after police have been combing the streets of the suburban communities and the forest nearby in search for the "lioness."
They used night-vision goggles and drones but called the search off on Friday.
21st Jul 2023, 13:17 By Catherine Micallef
Lion is probably a boar, authorities say
German authorities have called off the search for a suspected missing lioness as they found no evidence of a big cat on the loose.
They've held a press conference in which they said that after speaking to experts, they believe the animal is actually a wild boar.
No paw prints or DNA material such as animal waste has been found near the area to suggest that it was a lion.
21st Jul 2023, 13:00 By Catherine Micallef
Reports suggest police haven't found an animal tracker yet
Kleinmachnow Mayor Michael Grubert insisted that the search "can't carry on for days" as he expected it to "intensify" on Friday.
However, German news agency DPA reported on Friday that the municipality is yet to find an animal track expert.
It also added that it isn't yet clear whether the hair found on a tree on Thursday would provide any evidence which directs them to the lioness.
21st Jul 2023, 12:45 By Catherine Micallef
What are people advised to do?
Brandenburg police is asking residents "to act with appropriate caution and to avoid the adjacent forests."
They've also been warned to look after pets and farm animals.
If anyone comes across the lioness they should "seek safety immediately and call the police."
21st Jul 2023, 12:30 By Catherine Micallef
Police are asking where the lioness has come from
Authorities confirmed that the two dozen registered lion in the Brandenburg state surrounding Berlin have been accounted for.
Police added that none of the zoos, animal shelters, circuses or other facilities reported a missing lioness.
There is also no information of anyone privately owning a lioness in the area, authorities added, which begs the question: "Where did the lioness run from?"
21st Jul 2023, 12:15 By Catherine Micallef
Young people were playing lion roars during the night
Police spokesperson Kerstin Schrder said that not everyone is taking the search for the missing lioness seriously.
It comes as a group of young people have been found to be playing a loud recording of lion roars using a Bluetooth device during the night, Ms Schrder told RBB.
"That helps neither the municipality nor the police in the search for the animal," she added.
21st Jul 2023, 12:00 By Catherine Micallef
Police assume video of lion is 'authentic'
Last night, a video of a "big cat" was shared with further confirmations that police have also seen the lioness on the loose.
Police said they're "currently assuming" the video is "authentic."
21st Jul 2023, 11:40 By Catherine Micallef
German crime family member willing to help search for missing lion
A member of a German crime family has offered to help in the search for the missing lioness.
The son of the head of the Remmo family - Firas - said that he can "lead the lioness back to her enclosure."
Posting on social media, he asked the public to "let him know first" if they have any information about the lioness' whereabouts so he can step in "before some idiot shoots her."
21st Jul 2023, 11:20 By Catherine Micallef
Police dealing with a lioness 'roaming freely'
German police spokesman Daniel Keip spoke to media about the reports they receive each summer about dangerous animals.
He said: "In the summer, you often hear reports of crocodiles in swimming lakes and then it turns out all it was, was a big duck. In this case, it's obviously totally real.
"We're dealing with a lioness that's roaming freely through Teltow, Stahnsdorf and Kleinmachnow."
21st Jul 2023, 11:00 By Catherine Micallef
What will happen to the lioness once police find it?
Police have already confirmed their plans about what they'll do once they find the animal.
Last night they said that rather than shooting it as many expected, they plan to use tranquiliser darts to seize the lioness while they take it to an animal shelter.
Kleinmanchnow mayor Michael Grubert added that if the lioness poses a threat to human life, they'll, unfortunately, have to kill it.
21st Jul 2023, 10:40 By Catherine Micallef
Search set to 'intensify'
Kleinmachnow Mayor Michael Grubert told local broadcaster RBB on late Thursday that police officers will be searching the forest near Kleinmachnow and Zehlendorf on Friday.
"Professional animal track searchers" will also be joining them.
He is expecting the search to "intensify" on Friday as he said: "We have to say that this can't carry on for days."
21st Jul 2023, 10:20 By Catherine Micallef
Residents hearing roars
As authorities desperately search for the missing lioness on the loose, residents reported that they've heard lions' roars during the night.
Berlin police said that locals reported seeing the lioness and heard roars in the nearby Zehlendorf area near the city limits.
Residents living in the southern districts of Kleinmachnow, Teltow and Stahnsdorf were advised to stay indoors as police are joined by an expert on animal tracks on their hunt today.
21st Jul 2023, 10:00 By Shanine Bruder
Police statement
A massive police operation is underway including a helicopter and thermal imaging cameras to locate the missing animal.
A police spokesperson said: “We have deployed massive forces at the site to protect the population.”
21st Jul 2023, 09:30 By Shanine Bruder
Police provide update as search continues
Local police have taken to Twitter to provide their latest update.
The tweet reads: ”The search for the #L？win was unsuccessful during the night and will be continued today.
”If you see the animal, we ask you to provide this information via the emergency call 110.”
#Update
Die Suche nach der #L？win verlief in der Nacht erfolglos und wird heute fortgesetzt.
Falls Sie das Tier sichten, bitten wir Sie diese Information über den Notruf 110 mitzuteilen.
— Polizei Brandenburg (@PolizeiBB) July 21, 2023
21st Jul 2023, 09:00 By Shanine Bruder
Escaped lion on the loose in Berlin as beast spotted ‘with kill’
German cops have urged people to stay indoors as a suspected lioness was spotted on the loose in the capital.
Officers advised the residents of Berlin's southern suburbs not to leave their houses and to keep their pets indoors.
A massive police operation is underway in the area including a helicopter and thermal imaging cameras to locate the missing animal.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
WILD THING Lion on loose in city spotted ‘with kill’ - as cops warn it could attack anyone
21st Jul 2023, 08:30 By Shanine Bruder
Locals saw big cat ‘attack wild boar’
Two men reported seeing a big cat running after a wild boar, the latter common in and around Berlin, police spokesman Daniel Kiep said.
He told BILD: “Around midnight, witnesses saw a predator tearing down a wild boar.
“We also got video material about it. It is therefore a lioness. There is currently no reason for us to doubt its authenticity.”
21st Jul 2023, 08:00 By Shanine Bruder
How many people do lions kill every year?
Lions are deemed one of the fiercest, most dangerous creatures in the animal kingdom.
But how many human lives do they take every year?
Lions kill around 250 people each year, according to Statista.
For context, this is half the amount of deaths attributed to hippos.
21st Jul 2023, 07:30 By Shanine Bruder
Do NOT approach a hungry lion, says Tiger King star Carole Baskin
Tiger King star Carole Baskin has issued an urgent warning over what to do if you come face-to-face with a hungry lion.
The advice comes as a big cat, believed to be a lioness, is reportedly on the loose in Berlin, Germany.
Find out more below.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
LION IN WAIT Tiger King star reveals what to do if you come face-to-face with hungry lion
21st Jul 2023, 07:00 By Shanine Bruder
Previous animal escapes
It's not the first time Germans have been told to be on the lookout for wild animals on the loose.
In May, residents in the central German city of Erfurt were jolted by the sight of a kangaroo hopping across a busy road after escaping from a private property.
In 2016, German zookeepers had to shoot dead a lion after it escaped from its enclosure in the eastern city of Leipzig and a tranquilliser failed to stop it.
Load more entries…