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‘Lioness’ near Berlin still on the loose

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German police extended the search Friday for a wild animal believed to be a lioness roaming the outskirts of Berlin more than 24 hours since the last reported sighting.

In a story that has fascinated Germany and given rise to a slew of satirical memes on social media, two people spotted what appeared to be a lioness early Thursday chasing a wild boar down a street outside the capital and made a short, grainy video.

But their account and a sighting by police officers remain the only evidence so far of the wild animal, more at home on the African savanna than the sandy soil of eastern Germany.

Police continued combing the streets of suburban communities southwest of Berlin in the small hours of Friday using night-vision goggles and drones but called off a forest search until daybreak, a spokesman said.

The mayor of the town of Kleinmachnow, Michael Grubert, told public broadcaster RBB that professional animal trackers searching for dung or bloody remains of prey had been enlisted alongside police, veterinarians and hunters.

But he acknowledged that the massive operation involving over 100 police officers as well as helicopters and thermal-imaging cameras was stretching his community’s resources.

“This can’t go on for days,” he said.

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Once the animal is found, it will likely be sedated with a tranquiliser and taken to an animal shelter, Grubert said.

The two dozen registered lions in Brandenburg state surrounding Berlin are accounted for, authorities said, leaving police to ask whether the beast had been kept illegally. No owner has come forward since the search began.

 ‘Into thin air’

Despite numerous tips from citizens, including a few claiming to have heard a loud roar, none of the information had led to the animal being located so far, police said.

Residents in the area have been advised “to act with appropriate caution and to avoid the adjacent forests” and look after pets and farm animals.

Anyone crossing paths with the big cat should “seek safety immediately and call the police”, Brandenburg police said.

Despite the reported sightings by the passersby and police, wildlife expert Derk Ehlert voiced doubt it was actually a lioness on the loose due to the absence of any trace of the beast since early Thursday.

“A lioness doesn’t just disappear into thin air,” he told public radio.

Ehlert and other specialists also noted the relatively short tail of the creature in the video, as well as its big ears.

“I’ve never seen a lion with jug ears,” circus owner Michel Rogall told local media.

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It’s not the first time Germans have been told to be on the lookout for wild animals.

In May, residents in the central German city of Erfurt were jolted by the sight of a kangaroo hopping across a busy road after escaping from a private property.

In 2019, it took several days for a deadly cobra to be recaptured in the western town of Herne, where residents had been told to keep their windows closed and steer clear of tall grass.

In 2016, German zookeepers shot dead a lion after it escaped from its enclosure in the eastern city of Leipzig and a tranquiliser failed to stop it.

 

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Metro

Texas Storm Claims Seven Lives

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Shattered windows are seen on buildings in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024, one day after the city was hit by severe storms. Credit: Cécile Clocheret / AFP

The death toll from severe weather that lashed the Texas city of Houston has risen to seven, authorities said Friday.

The three additional deaths came after Houston, the fourth-largest US city, was hit Thursday by heavy rain and winds up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, leaving downtown streets covered in glass from blown-out windows.

Downed trees and power lines littered residential areas and the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in the suburb of Cypress.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the new victims included an 85-year-old woman who died after her mobile home was struck by lightning and caught fire.

A 60-year-old man was found unresponsive and pronounced dead after going to his truck to try and power his oxygen tank, after electricity was cut across wide swaths of the storm-hit area.

And a 57-year-old man collapsed and died after trying to move a downed power pole.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said Thursday after the storm that four people died, though specifics were not immediately available.

Schools in Houston, home to 2.3 million people with an economy centered around oil and petrochemicals, were closed on Friday and non-essential workers urged to stay home.

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Metro

Israel-Palestine Conflict Claims 35,173 Lives

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An Israeli army battle tank moves in an area along the border with the Gaza Strip and southern Israel on April 2, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP)

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Tuesday that at least 35,173 people have been killed in the territory during more than seven months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants.

The toll includes at least 82 deaths over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 79,061 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.

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Metro

Photos: Tragic Accident Claims Two Lives in Ogbomoso

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In a devastating turn of events today, tragedy struck the streets of Oke- Owode in Ogbomoso as a fatal collision between a bus laden with mango fruits and a car occupied by suspected yahoo boys claimed the lives of two individuals, including the bus driver.

Eyewitness accounts at the scene painted a grim picture, alleging that the occupants of the car, believed to be involved in cybercrime activities, were driving recklessly, possibly impaired by alcohol.

Their vehicle collided with the mango-laden bus, resulting in the loss of lives.

Promptly responding to the distress call, law enforcement officials arrived at the scene to assess the situation.

Their efforts focused on clearing the obstruction caused by the bus and attending to the victims. The bodies of the deceased were carefully removed and transported for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the car driven by the suspected yahoo boys was impounded and taken to the Police Area Command for thorough examination.

Authorities are committed to unraveling the circumstances leading to the accident and holding those responsible accountable.

The incident has caused significant disruption to traffic in the Oke Owode area, prompting authorities to work tirelessly to restore normalcy.

Expressing shock and grief, local residents and community members emphasised the importance of adherence to traffic regulations and called for caution among drivers to avert such tragedies in the future.

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As investigations unfold, the police remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, determined to establish the facts surrounding the accident and ensure that justice is served.

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