Escape despite being shot with a tranquilizer gun… Captured alive after 7 hours of tracking.
Order to refrain from going out in the area… Some residents were trapped in their cars
“Animal circuses should be banned” controversy reignites
An incident occurred in Italy where a lion escaped from a circus and was roaming the streets. Fortunately, it was captured without casualties, but residents who were enjoying a leisurely weekend afternoon were terrified.
According to foreign media such as local media Corriere della Sera on the 11th (local time), the incident occurred in Ladispoli, a small city with a population of 40,000 located near Rome. The next day, a lion named Kimba escaped from the circus troupe that was scheduled to perform in the area. Police first attempted to capture him near the circus around 3 p.m., but were unsuccessful. The lion was shot with a tranquilizer gun, but escaped and entered a residential area.
Authorities issued an alert and ordered residents to refrain from going out until the lion was caught. Mayor Ladispoli sent an urgent message saying, “A lion has escaped from the circus. “Please exercise extreme caution and avoid traveling until further guidance is given.”
However, many residents spending a weekend afternoon encountered or witnessed a lion. The videos they took were shared on social media (SNS) and became a hot topic. A woman found a lion strolling outside her house and she cried out “Mamma mia (Oh my god)”. Some residents who had gone out were trapped in their cars for hours, shaking in fear.
The lion, which was wandering around a residential area, was shot a second time at around 8:30 p.m., but ran away again, and was eventually caught by the police at 10 a.m., ending a seven-hour chase. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and residents were able to breathe a sigh of relief.
This incident seems to have reignited the controversy over circus animal abuse in Italy. Some Ladispoli residents protested to the mayor, asking, “Why did you allow an animal circus?” The mayor protested through social media, saying, “I did not give permission and had no power to stop it,” and said, “I hope this incident will end the exploitation of animals in circuses.” A local animal protection group also said, “We hope that a law will be introduced to ban circuses with animals.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.