Berlin authorities have been alerted by reports from residents in the south of the German capital that a lion has been seen roaming the area. A video posted on Twitter shows the female lion walking around Berlin.

After information was received around midnight on Wednesday, authorities launched a major operation to locate the lion and have asked people to stay indoors and not leave animals outdoors.

Veterinary experts are involved in the operation, while two helicopters equipped with thermal cameras are searching for the lion from the air.

According to the state agency, it remains unknown where the feline escaped from, as a search of zoos and circuses in the area has already been completed.

#löwe in #kleinmachnow @polizeiberlin sucht aber findet nicht pic.twitter.com/hZmIcNZK7j

— deer BSC (@lqzze1) July 20, 2023