In a comically unfortunate series of events, five African lions recently escaped their enclosures at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo during an overnight guest program. The incident occurred on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 6:30 a.m. AEST. Thankfully, zoo staff safely relocated guests and gained control of the animals.
This wild story is just one of many curious animal escape events throughout history. Since humans began capturing animals, there have been tales of wildlife escapes. From lions, tigers, and bears to pandas, penguins, and flamingos, some animals simply refuse to stay in captivity. Curious to learn about some of the world’s most interesting animal escapes? Check out this roundup of eight times zoo animals broke free from their enclosures.