Missing lion found safe in safari zone at Vandalur zoo, thanks to drones and team effort

CHENNAI: Authorities have confirmed that the lion, which went missing from the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, has been found safe. The lion, named Sheryaar, five years old, had been released into the safari zone on October 3. Zoo staff and a special team searched the area throughout the night to locate the animal.

The zoological park issued an official statement about the incident. According to officials, Sheryaar was brought to Vandalur from the Bannerghatta Zoological Park in Bengaluru in 2023 and is usually released into the safari area regularly. However, on Friday, the lion did not return to its enclosure as usual, prompting a large-scale search. The team followed the lion’s footprints and other signs during the search. Thermal imaging drones were used at night and regular drones during the day, the statement said.

The lion Sheryaar was adopted by Tamil actor Sivakarthikeyan. The Arignar Anna Zoological Park is located in Vandalur, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. Spread across 1,500 acres, it is the largest zoo in South India. The park is home to about 2,400 animals and birds, including tigers, lions, bears, elephants, giraffes, deer, bison, and many species of birds.