2021-05-11 04:40:51 GMT2021-05-11 12:40:51(Beijing Time) Sina English
A safari park in eastern China concealed the escape of three leopards, one of which was still at large, for nearly three weeks to prevent negative publicity affecting its visitor numbers during last week’s May Day holiday, police said on Monday.
The revelation stoked anger over the park’s secretive response to the safety lapse in the city of Hangzhou.
Police said personnel cleaning the leopards’ enclosure at the privately run Hangzhou Safari Park in Fuyang District on April 19 violated safety regulations, allowing the animals to escape.
One was recaptured two days later by the park, and a second on Saturday by a larger search involving government agencies that was launched after news of the escapes went viral.