Vision from Sydney's Taronga Zoo shows the moment four lion cubs and an adult male made their escape, sparking an emergency at the iconic venue.
The footage, from two CCTV cameras pointed at the Lion Pride Lands enclosure, shows the lions slipping through a hole in a wire fence and venturing outside the pen.
The ABC requested the vision in a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) request after the incident took place early in the morning on November 2.
It captures the cubs exploring the portion of the faulty fence that zoo officials said had led to "swages" — clamps that join wire cables together — failing, which caused a lacing cable to unravel.
In a statement following the release of the footage, a Taronga spokesperson said the lions had been moved to a "back-of-house" enclosure as investigations continue into how the incident happened.
"Taronga's review of the lion incident is ongoing, and an independent, specialist forensic engineer is still conducting detailed investigations on the failure and the complex mesh fencing system," they said.
"Their review will also advise on necessary repairs.
"The lions will continue to remain in an outdoor, back-of-house habitat pending findings of the specialist engineering review, and at this stage, will not be back in their main exhibit before Christmas."
The "emergency incident" unfolded about 6:40am, while patrons at the zoo's "Roar and Snore" experience slept.
People were ordered out of their tents and into toilet buildings while staff worked to secure the animals.
Officials said the lions left and four later re-entered the enclosure after the cub squeezed under the fence.
The fifth, a female cub, was "safely tranquillised" and returned to the group.
"One by one, three cubs followed with adult male lion Ato existing last," a Taronga spokesperson said.
It was later revealed two lion cubs made it past a second fence — which was at odds with initial updates suggesting all five animals made it out of their enclosure but not into public areas of the zoo.
Footage released on Thursday shows the cubs pawing at the fence over the course of several minutes before some manage to slip through.
It later shows two of the lion cubs calmly investigating metres outside the enclosure as the pride of lions watches on, before more follow through the gap.
An adult female lion remained in the enclosure and can be seen patrolling near the fence.
"With encouragement from keepers, Ato returned to the exhibit before making his way into the dens to be reunited with his pride.
"Female cub Malika was tranquillised by Taronga's emergency response team and later transported back to the dens."
At the time of the incident zoo executive director, Simon Duffy, said the public was in no danger, despite the facility-wide shutdown.
The review into the incident continues but has so far recommended the engagement of an "independent tensile-structure engineer" to closely inspect the failure and advise on its repair.
Mr Duffy reassured the public that the facility had its own safety perimeter fence preventing the animals from leaving and wandering the streets of Sydney.
