The lion named Zeus, who escaped last night from the zoo in the Manavgat area near the popular Turkish resort of Antalya, was shot early this morning after a several-hour search operation, Turkish and international news agencies, including Anadolu Agency, Hürriyet and BBC Türkçe, reported.
The incident has caused serious concern among residents of Manavgat - an area popular with its resort complexes and visited by many tourists during the summer season. Local authorities declared a state of emergency immediately after the report of the escaped lion and urged citizens not to leave their homes.
According to official sources and publications on the Turkish news portal Mynet, during its escape, the lion attacked and seriously injured a man working in a nearby field. The injured man was rushed to a local hospital, where doctors continue to fight for his life.
The search for the predator was carried out with the participation of police, gendarmerie and teams of specially trained hunters. A drone with a thermal camera was used to locate the animal. The operation lasted several hours at night, with the area around the zoo cordoned off and traffic temporarily halted, Hürriyet reports.
After the lion's location was determined in a plowed field near the city, the hunters decided not to risk further incidents and, on the orders of local authorities, shot it on the spot.According to representatives of the municipality, an attempt was made to sedate the animal, but due to the situation and the risks to the population, a decision was made to use firearms.
The case sparked a discussion in the Turkish media about the conditions for keeping wild animals in zoos and the need for stricter security measures. According to local authorities, an investigation is underway to determine the reasons for the escape, including whether there were security lapses or technical malfunctions.