An Italian city experienced panic when a lion escaped from a circus and was found roaming the streets. After several hours, the lion was captured by authorities, but the incident sparked criticism of the circus and calls to end animal exploitation in circuses. WION Web Team reported
Panic ensued in an Italian city when a lion managed to escape from a circus and was discovered wandering the streets at night. Videos circulated on social media platforms captured the lion calmly strolling through the empty streets of Ladispoli, near Rome, on the evening of November 11th. Authorities were closely monitoring the situation, waiting for the opportune moment to capture the big cat. It took approximately seven hours for the officials to successfully apprehend the lion, which had to be sedated twice as it woke up after the first dose.
Local news outlet Corriere della Sera reported that the lion repeatedly managed to evade capture before it was first sedated around 3 pm. It then escaped again but was sedated for the second time at 8:30 pm before finally being captured by the police at 10 pm. The mayor, Alessandro Grando, alerted residents and urged them to stay indoors while assuring them that law enforcement was dispatched to handle the situation.
According to the mayor’s update, more than six hours after the initial report, the lion was safely captured and returned to the circus. Grando expressed his gratitude to the State Police, Carabinieri, Firefighters, Local and Provincial Police, ASL, and all the volunteers who assisted during the challenging ordeal. He also used the incident as an opportunity to call for an end to the exploitation of animals in circuses.
The mayor faced criticism for allowing the circus to operate in the city, but he clarified that the circus was not hired by the city authority and that it falls under autonomous management. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers and ethical concerns surrounding the use of wild animals in entertainment..