Critics Call Italy To Ban Wild Animals For Entertainment After Lion Escape From Circus

(Photo : Getty Images/SONIA LOGRE)

The lion that escaped from a circus in the Italian town of Ladispoli, near Rome, has been recaptured after many hours on the loose, which resulted in the call of the critics to ban wild animals for entertainment.

Around ten o'clock p.m. on Saturday, Ladispoli mayor Alessandro Grando posted on his Facebook page that the lion had been captured.

The animal had been roaming around for at least 5 hours, causing locals fear and bewilderment.

Broken Lock

Earlier on Saturday, Grando alarmed local residents immediately following the animal's escape, encouraging them to remain watchful and to stay at home.

It was close to 5 p.m. local time, when it was announced that the lion had escaped from the circus, it was immediately traced down within the neighboring river.

"Circus personnel are implementing the capture operations, with the support of Law Enforcement who promptly responded to the scene. Please exercise caution and avoid movement until further notice," the mayor said.

However, the lion managed to vanish in a deep reedbed before reappearing in town. After spotting the police car, the lion bolted once more.

Grando said they are considering sabotage in the incident after one of the circus' staff observed three people fleeing and discovered a broken lock at the circus, which may have been the reason for the lion's escape.

He added that the incident is now being investigated.

After escaping, the lion roamed the streets of Ladispoli, a beach town about 50 kilometers from Rome, and was photographed by numerous people from their homes or cars.

Several social media videos show the lion prowling around among parked cars and in front of residential gates.

Veterinarians used a dart loaded with a geolocator to capture the lion, which was eventually identified and surrounded near a school.

The lion was in decent shape, despite being scared and in a state of mild hypothermia.

Animal Cruelty In Italy

Animal rights activists have condemned the circus, claiming that maintaining such wild animals is cruel.

More than 20 European countries have prohibited or severely limited the use of animals in circuses, but Italy is still not one of them.

According to the LAV campaign group, which estimates that just under 2,000 animals are confined in circuses across Italy, a law has been developed but was delayed this year until 2024.

According to the Organization for the Protection of Animals (OIPA), an animal rights group, what happened at Ladispoli "highlights the dangers of circuses with animals from the standpoint of public security." However, it also emphasized "the discomfort of poor creatures forced into captivity for entertainment".

Grando said he had not authorized the appearance of a circus with lions in town, but that he lacked the authority to prevent it.

"I hope that this episode will stir some consciences, and that we can finally put an end to the exploitation of animals in circuses," he added.

This story comes four months after a much more chaotic chase in Germany for an escaped lion.

After hours of searching with thermal imaging equipment and helicopters, authorities ultimately revealed that there was no lion and that the blurry mobile phone film that sparked the alarm likely showed a wild boar.