In the vicinity of the Italian capital, Rome, a lion has been successfully sedated and apprehended after being spotted wandering the streets of a town. The incident, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, triggered a warning from local authorities. Ladispoli, a seaside town situated approximately 35 kilometres west of Rome, was the backdrop for this unusual escapade.
Some say the lion was on the prowl for some gelato, others say he thought he had family in town who immigrated to Rome to work in the Colosseum. Who knows!
More footage of the lion that escaped from a circus wandering the streets of Ladispoli, Rome, Italy 🇮🇹 | 11 November 2023 | #Italy #Lion #escaped pic.twitter.com/jW5Sq7jbha
— Disaster Tracker (@DisasterTrackHQ) November 12, 2023
The feline was ultimately sedated. Mayor Alessandro Grando shared this update on social media late on Saturday, emphasizing the collective commitment involved in resolving the situation.
Grando expressed his hope that this incident would serve as a catalyst for ending the exploitation of animals in circuses. He cautioned residents against venturing out while the lion was at large and informed the public that the creature was swiftly traced to a nearby waterway.
🇮🇹🦁FLASH – Un lion s’est échappé d’un cirque et déambule dans la banlieue de Rome. (témoins) pic.twitter.com/KaVw60aVVk
— AlertesInfos (@AlertesInfos) November 11, 2023
In response to concerns about the circus, Mayor Grando clarified that he did not have the authority to approve circuses and mentioned that his administration had previously attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to prohibit circuses featuring animals in the town back in 2017.
