Two lions who escaped from their cage at a zoo in Chongqing were captured and returned to the cage under anesthetic.

The two lions got out of the cage at about 8 am on Monday, according to information released by the Chongqing municipal government on its official micro blog on Monday.

Police, snipers and anesthetists were called to the scene, the micro blog said.

The lions were returned to the cage under anesthetic by 11:40 am.