Escaped Taronga Zoo lions
(Image: Supplied)

Taronga Zoo did not wait for an assessment from government officials before reopening its grounds to the public following the escape of a pride of lions from their enclosure in early November, a move an animal rights MP has called “outrageous”.

New details of the lion escape were revealed earlier this week in previously unreported preliminary findings from an investigation by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

Crikey can also reveal that investigation is taking longer than expected. 

The Animal Justice Party’s Emma Hurst, who sought information from the DPI in NSW Parliament, told Crikey she had more questions she wanted answered. 

“Why were no proper safety checks undertaken by the DPI to ensure animals couldn’t re-escape before the zoo opened?” she said. 

“Incidents like these raise serious questions about whether we should be keeping wild animals in captivity, where they do not belong and where all their behavioural needs cannot possibly be met, simply for human entertainment.”

Taronga Zoo said it adhered to all regulatory requirements. 

“Taronga Zoo opened to the public … once the lions were securely contained within their separate den system, keepers and vets had undertaken health checks and the chief warden was able to confirm that the emergency situation was complete,” a zoo spokesperson told Crikey.

In answers to questions from Hurst, the DPI said department officials were not told about the escape until about 8.30am, nearly two hours after the lions bolted. 

The first lion escaped at 6.21am and the last lion was captured at 8.09am, the zoo said.

DPI officials did not make it to the zoo until 1pm. 

In response to questions from Crikey, a DPI official revealed the department’s investigation into the escape, which was meant to finish by November 25, was still ongoing as of Friday. 

“The investigation is thoroughly considering the circumstances surrounding the escape, the care for the animals throughout the incident and the emergency procedures and plans in place at Taronga Zoo in preparation for incidents like this,” the spokesperson said.

The reason for the delay was that the department still requires “additional information from Taronga Zoo to assist”. 

The zoo said it was cooperating fully with the department, and that it was conducting its own investigation into the incident. 

The zoo’s own investigation team is still waiting for a report from an “independent, specialist forensic engineer” who is having a look at how a “complex mesh fencing system” ended up ripping, allowing the five lions to escape their enclosure early in the morning on November 2. 

The department is considering fining Taronga Zoo over the incident, but said it won’t make a decision on penalties until it finishes its investigation. 

The zoo said it had placed the lions in an “outdoor, back-of-house habitat” that had been inspected by the DPI and external engineers, where they will remain until investigations are finished. 

“All the animals in the zoo are closely monitored to ensure that we are not just meeting their needs, but giving them the opportunity to experience positive welfare,” the zoo spokeswoman said.

“Beyond that, our lions receive an array of enrichment as part of their routine care that promotes positive, natural behaviour and presents the animals with challenges and stimuli that encourage good physical and cognitive health and welfare.”

The new details on the twin investigations come a day after the zoo released CCTV footage of the escape, in response to a freedom of information request from ABC News.