Two tigers that were briefly on the loose Sunday in Georgia after a tornado touched down and damaged enclosures at an animal safari park have been recaptured, officials said.
The tigers escaped from Pine Mountain Animal Safari in Troup County after the park “sustained extensive tornado damage” and “several animal enclosures were breached,” the park wrote on Facebook.
Both tigers were recaptured by 10:45 a.m. after the park reported that the tigers were unaccounted for, the Troup County Sheriff’s Office said.
Park officials said the tigers were tranquilized and safely returned to a secure enclosure. No animals or employees were hurt during the incident.
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Officials did not say where the tigers were located or if the animals had escaped the park’s property.
“Pine Mountain Safari is committed to the safety of our employees, our animals, our customers, and our community,” the park said, adding that it will remain closed Sunday.
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While no further details on the escape were immediately available, the incident comes after officials reported that a tornado in the area damaged buildings and toppled trees and power lines. Officials said there is also a report that Verizon cell service is interrupted.
Crews were responding to people trapped inside their homes, the LaGrange Daily News reported.
The sheriff’s office advised citizens to stay off the roads.
“If you do not have to get on the roads this morning, please do not travel,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook, before adding a second post that read, “STAY OFF THE ROADS Troup County!”
A Tornado Watch has been issued for parts of Georgia and Alabama until 1 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
Weather officials also issued a flash flood warning for parts of Georgia, including Manchester,…
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