Police in Germany are hunting an escaped “lioness” that has been reported to be roaming the woods overnight on the outskirts of Berlin.
Authorities warned residents to “avoid leaving the house” due to sightings of an escaped wild animal in the Potsdam region south of the capital, home to around 20,000 residents.
A video posted on Twitter overnight appeared to show a big cat apparently having successfully killed and hunted a wild boar, alongside the footage taken by torchlight the poster wrote that police helicopters were on the way.
According to Der Spiegel police found out about the big cat after witnesses posted videos online. Police said vets and specialist teams had been mobilised to track down the large cat.
It’s not been confirmed yet where the big cat has escaped from but local zoos, circuses and private collections are believed to be being checked.
Polizei (police) Brandenburg said in a statement less than an hour ago the escaped animal had still not been found.
Earlier they posted on Twitter: “Please avoid leaving the house due to an escaped wild animal in the Kleinmachnow, Teltow & Stahnsdorf (PM) area and also bring your pets into the house. Our colleagues are on site and checking the situation.”
An alert from the Berlin Fire Service added: “Warning of a free-roaming dangerous wild animal. – Area of the southern state border of Berlin”
The fire department added: “The wild animal is believed to be a lioness.”
