Lioness on the loose in Berlin turns out to be a boar
UPDATE: Police outside Berlin have called off the search for what was thought to be a lioness on the loose.
The animal was thought to be, "with relative certainty", a boar, they said.https://t.co/Gs6mzRvSvU
- DW News (@dwnews) July 21, 2023
On Thursday morning a video of an alleged lioness that had been spotted in Kleinmachnow, a community right outside of Germany's capital Berlin, went viral on social media. Police later confirmed the news, claiming multiple people called them overnight about a possible sighting and that 2 officers had also seen a "big cat" about 20m (65ft) away.
Around 450 police officers were then deployed to find the lioness, supported by wildlife experts. Drones, helicopters and heat-seeking cameras were also used. Residents were alarmed via mobile notifications and told to stay inside, to keep their pets with them and to avoid forest areas. Experts also issued advice on how to deal with the wild animal if someone came upon it, such as standing still and avoiding eye contact.
During a press conference on Friday afternoon authorities announced that they have called off the search after finding no paw-prints or DNA material, such as animal waste. Two experts also told them the animal in the video was most likely a boar.
German police are asking people near Berlin to stay inside after a big cat, believed to be a lion, was seen pic.twitter.com/1tspcIikrQ
- BNO News (@BNONews) July 20, 2023
🇩🇪 Lions, tigers...and wild boars?
After a nearly two-day hunt, German police on Friday called off a search for a wild animal initially believed to be a lioness roaming the outskirts of #Berlin after determining it was more likely a wild boar ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/kmgpEzSnEb
- FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) July 21, 2023
Well, at least the memes were good:
Tinder erstes Date pic.twitter.com/QdJpd4Rvta
- paypal.me/boxenlude (@BoxenIude) July 21, 2023
Happy pride weekend, and keep on looking for the lioness INSIDE YOURSELF #Löwin pic.twitter.com/cVkFNNo3xy
- michael (@michahahael) July 21, 2023
From to real quick #Löwin pic.twitter.com/vdZPkRm0rQ
- Sarah (@saaarushka) July 21, 2023
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight #Loewin pic.twitter.com/2GL1dcJQaT
- Konstantin Feist (@konsfeist) July 21, 2023
And the Oscar as best actor goes to the Wildschwein as "Die #Löwin" pic.twitter.com/aDGzQiVK2c
- Allan Mask (Blauer Haken) (@mta1209) July 21, 2023
sources: @ BNOnews, @ dwnews, dw.com, @ France24_en, @ BoxenIude, @ mta1209, @ michahahael, @ saaarushka, @ konsfeist