Search for "big cat” continues in Tbilisi

Updated: 5pm: Search and rescue teams are continuing to search for one tiger and a striped hyena, and are urging people in Georgia's capital to remain vigilant and avoid dark and hidden places until the two animals are caught.

The tiger and hyena have been missing for six days since the flash flood destroyed most of Tbilisi Zoo overnight on June 13. The search of Turtle Lake and nearby area, including the Ethnographic Open Air Museum, has ended however a special group of hunters with trained dogs are continuing to patrol the forest area from Turtle Lake and the Ethnographic Museum to Bagebi territory. 

Officials are asking the public to stay away from Vake Park, Bagebi district and the area surrounding Turtle Lake. The Ethnographic Open Air Museum is remains closed to the public.  

Earlier: 2.15pm:Emergency experts are searching an area on the outskirts of Tbilisi after several sightings and photos emerged showing a big cat wandering near Turtle Lake.

Officials spent the night scouring the area from Turtle Lake to the Bagebi territory for the missing big cat.

Hunters installed camera traps and video traps around the territory to attract the missing wild animals for capture.

It is believed the big cat spotted in the photos and seen by several witnesses was the missing tiger that escaped Tbilisi Zoo in Saturday night’s devastating flood.

The search efforts near Turtle Lake started after photos of what appeared to be a tiger were uploaded on social media several days ago. Some photo experts believe the photos have been edited but hunters confirmed the photos were authentic.

"Three people who do not know each other gave these photos to us. About 15 people [saw other witnesses taking photos of] the wild animal at Turtle Lake territory. We, as hunters and not experts, confirm the wild animal is a member of the big-cat family,” said hunter Giorgi Metreveli.

Georgia's former Ambassador in France Mamuka Kudava posted this photo on June 17 on his Facebook page, writing: "tiger, escaped from zoo, near my home..."

Right now hunters and special rescue teams are searching for one tiger and a striped hyena.

Meanwhile several telephone calls last night prompted rescuers to conduct an overnight search for the missing wild animals in Tskneti and in several districts of Tbilisi but the search ended without success.

Officials said 47 calls were made to the emergency number 112 about wild animals.

47 telephone calls last night prompted rescuers to conduct an overnight search for the missing wild animals in Tskneti and in several districts of Tbilisi. Photo /Facebook/Amiran Toronjadze.

Going forward, the bodies of dead zoo animals are slowly being removed from Tbilisi Zoo, Mziuri Park and the nearby territory.

Georgia’s National Food Agency is monitoring the situation and is transporting the decaying carcasses to the Tbilisi Waste Polygon territory where they will be buried. As of Friday morning 78 animal carcasses have been buried.

Furthermore, specialists from the National Food Agency have cleaned the Vake Meat Products factory of its spoiled meat products. The factory was completely ruined in the Tbilisi flood and 41 tonnes of meat was destroyed.

On a final note, this afternoon once the Laguna Vere territory was cleaned, Agency specialists will start to destroy damaged meat-related products from local business 21 Century.