Two lions escape from zoo enclosure in Germany

Visitors at a zoo near Berlin had to be evacuated when two lions escaped their enclosure.

The big cats made a bid for freedom at around 11am on Wednesday and one even made it into an area where visitors are free to roam.

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A vet managed to safely shoot a sedative at the female cat, called Gretchen, and she was taken back into her enclosure.

The male lion, called Massai, had been outside of his enclosure but didn't make it outside an area that was still considered secure.

All visitors were evacuated from the Wild Park Johannismühle in Baruth, located in Brandenburg around 46 miles south of Berlin.

The Daily Mail reports that it's not exactly clear how they escaped, but that the executive director of the wildlife park, Julian Dorsch, told Bild that the outbreak was due to "human error".

The two lions used to belong to the East German national circus.

The news comes just days after an orangutan escaped her enclosure at a Florida zoo.

The female, called Luna, managed to break out of her habitat at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay and started climbing trees just yards from visitors.

At one point she even dropped to the floor and sat on a display board, prompting screams from some of those standing nearby.

Luna, who is 18-years-old, had to be tranquilised so keepers could capture her safely and place her back in her enclosure. While this was happening the park evacuated the visitors.