TROUP COUNTY, Ga. — Two tigers were unaccounted for inside the Pine Mountain Animal Safari Sunday morning after a confirmed tornado in Troup County.
The Troup County Sheriff's Office posted on its social media page that it received a report from the animal safari that a tiger is on the loose inside the park. They said at 10:45 a.m., one was captured.
By 11 a.m., the animal safari announced that both animals are safe.
"Fortunately, none of our animals and employees were hurt. However, several animal enclosures were breeched, and two tigers briefly escaped," they wrote on social media. "Both have now been found, tranquilized, and safely returned to a secure enclosure."
One of the tigers stayed inside the park enclosure, while another left but stayed near the area of the park, officials said.
The Wild Animal Safari posted that it will be closed Sunday and that the park had sustained damage. However, it did not directly comment on the report of the escaped tiger.
In a statement to 11Alive, PETA condoned the zoo and said they put the public and the tigers in danger while making several unconfirmed claims about the safari.
"Wild Animal Safari’s long history of leaving enclosures in disrepair and its apparent unwillingness to plan for a natural disaster made the escape of dangerous tigers inevitable. Before this roadside zoo risks the public’s and big cats’ lives again, PETA is calling for the feds to crack down on the shady safari and for the animals to go to reputable sanctuaries that know how to give them the care they need and prepare for the worst."
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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