Lion escapes zoo near Prague, attacks handler; police shoot animal dead

A lion escaped from a zoo in the Central Bohemian village of Zvole, near Prague, on Saturday evening, injuring one of its handlers before police shot the animal dead. The handler sustained minor injuries and was treated on-site by emergency medical personnel, who determined hospital transport was unnecessary.

The incident has drawn attention to concerns over the zoo’s security measures and management. Local officials have filed complaints against the zoo, citing general endangerment and animal welfare violations. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances that led to the lion’s escape.

Shortly before 8 p.m. on Aug. 9, police received an emergency call reporting a lion had escaped its enclosure and attacked a zoo employee in Zvole. Officers quickly responded and upon arrival confronted the animal, which posed an immediate threat.

“Police used their service weapons to neutralize the lion,” Vlasta Suchánková, spokesperson for the Central Bohemian police, told Seznam Zprávy.

Emergency medical teams treated the injured handler at the scene, reporting only minor wounds. “The patient did not require transportation to the hospital and was released after treatment,” said Marek Hylebrant of the Central Bohemian Rescue Service.

Video footage and photos from the scene show police officers securing the area and the aftermath of the incident. In response, the zoo announced on its social media channels that all visits scheduled for the following day were canceled.

The Zvole zoo has faced repeated criticism for its security standards and the safety of both animals and staff. In recent years, other dangerous escapes have occurred, including two incidents involving pumas breaking free.

The local municipality has repeatedly voiced concerns about the enclosures, which reportedly consist of makeshift structures using wooden beams, nets, and zip ties.

Miroslav Stoklasa, the mayor of Zvole, confirmed to iDnes.cz that the local government filed criminal charges against the zoo’s owner for general endangerment and animal mistreatment. According to him, locals fear that the enclosures cannot reliably prevent future escapes.

The zoo’s troubled history extends beyond escapes. In 2018, the same owner was hospitalized after being bitten by a highly venomous black mamba snake kept on the zoo premises.

Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the lion escape, aiming to clarify how the incident occurred and to determine accountability.

“An investigation is currently underway into the entire incident, including the circumstances of the escape, the owner’s responsibility, and other related facts. We do not have this information available yet, but it will follow,” Suchánková stated.