Icon: enlarge
Police photo: Free-roaming bull antelope on the railway line
Photo: Darmstadt police
A guest circus in Darmstadt caused an extensive fire service: On Tuesday the director had two antelope bulls named "Massai" and "King" neutered.
After the procedure, both animals received a drug that was supposed to take them out of anesthesia.
"Maasai" is said to have not tolerated this well and panicked.
As the police announced, the bull fled through a cordon of the Rolina Circus at Darmstadt's Messplatz and ran through the city, including over a pedestrian bridge and railroad tracks.
Double tranquilizer
The circus family followed "Maasai" with a sprinter and tried to recapture him.
However, this only succeeded with the help of the professional fire brigade and animal rescue, who had to give the antelope bull two tranquilizers before he was ready to be transported.
According to the police report, "Maasai" was still able to walk independently and was led into a transport vehicle by the owner with the support of the animal rescue service.
A rail transport car organized by the emergency manager of the railway was not used.
A temporary track closure could be lifted around 11.30 p.m.
Maasai has since returned to the circus.
In recent years, animals have repeatedly escaped from circuses, as documented by the animal welfare organization Peta.
The animals put themselves and others in danger because, among other things, accidents can happen as soon as they are on the road.
Icon: The mirror
ala / dpa