Cage fighters: Inmates flee Kiev zoo hell

A Ukrainian zoo, already notorious for being beyond horrible, has more to it than meets the eye. More animals have chosen to break free from their tiny living spaces at Kiev’s troubled zoo opting for freedom, natural surroundings and…love stories.

An African crowned crane was the first to make an escape bid. He flew out from his small cage only to land in the center of the city and immediately be recaptured. Seven rare marmots, eight porcupines and a fox shortly followed suit. The porcupines and the fox were quickly intercepted near the zoo’s ticket office. The marmots, however, dug a tunnel so deep that the zookeepers still cannot reach them.The next effort came from a common crane. The bird attempted to run, as its wings were docked, up his aviary wall, clambering up hanging nets. But the poor bird fell into wolves’ claws and was eaten. The zoo employees later recalled the crane has been rehearsing the escape, practicing running up and down the nets.Next in line was a badger. The poor creature ran not for freedom, but for romance, heading straight into a cage of a neighboring marten. In a surge of passion, the badger demonstrated incredible skills – it disentangled the metal mesh of his cage to get through to the neighboring one, according to Ukraine’s Segodnya newspaper. The duration of his stay remains unknown. But as the employees returned the badger to his space, the animal became seriously depressed. He has been lying still for two days, staring in the direction of his desired neighbor.  The employees, however, do not believe in romantic outburst and are convinced that the shrewd badger just wanted to follow the marmots’ example. All this would be funny if it were not so sad. Journalists who have already become tired of reporting on the endless zoo escapes have started simply mocking the horrible events.   The Kiev Zoo is listed among the world’s five worst zoos after animal parks in Egypt, Iraqi Kurdistan and India. It is notorious for its small cages and living spaces, unnatural surroundings of concrete and iron, under-feeding and under-watering of the animals and neglect by the staff.Over 70 animals have died throughout this year, since October 2010.