“Let’s breath easy”: The mayor of Berlin defends the search for wild animals

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Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner (50) has defended the search for an alleged lioness on the outskirts of the capital against criticism. “I would have liked to see the news if it had been a lioness,” he told television channels RTL and n-tv on Monday. “Imagine if it had been a lioness who might even have had children.” It is the task of politicians and the police to ensure safety.

Following an alleged sighting of a lion near Kleinmachnow in Brandenburg, documented with a mobile phone video, up to 300 police officers, along with hunters and wildlife experts, searched a wooded area on the state border between Brandenburg and Berlin for more than 30 hours last week. On Friday, the authorities called off the search again because there were doubts whether there was actually a lioness.

There was no lion missing

In addition to the complete lack of traces or clues to the existence of a big cat, a renewed analysis of the sighting video by experts played a decisive role. Contrary to initial assessments by the authorities, based on details of the physique and posture, they concluded that it was most likely an unusual light-colored wild boar. No lion was reported missing either.

When viewing the video, he also did not assume that only a wild boar was visible, Wegner said. In the end, it is reassuring that things turned out differently in the end. “The fact that it was a wild boar gives you a sigh of relief.” (AFP)

Source: Blick