- Locals were told to stay in their homes whilst authorities tried to catch the lion
A shocking video has captured the moment an escaped lion casually walks down a residential street near Rome.
A terrified local shared the footage on X, formerly known as Twitter, which showed the animal walking down the streets of Ladispoli, home to around 40,000 people.
The woman who was filming could be heard saying ‘Mamma mia,’ as the lion, which dashed away from a circus, confidently strutted down the quiet road.
Some people were even left trapped in their cars. One resident uploaded a clip that showed the animal walking past their vehicle, with flashing blue emergency lights in the background.
Locals were told by the authorities to stay in their homes whilst they attempted to capture the big cat, known as Kimba.
The mayor of Ladispoli, Alessandro Grando, told locals: ‘A lion escaped from the circus. Please pay full attention and avoid travel until further notice.’
It took the authorities around seven hours to capture the lion and it had to be shot with sedatives twice as it awoke the first time, according to local news outlet, Corriere della Sera.
The site reported that the lion was able to get away multiple times, and was believed to have first been caught and sedated at 3pm CET between Vialle Mediterraneo and Via Nicosia.
It then managed to get away again and was sedated a second time at 8.30pm before finally being captured by police at 10pm.
Mr Grando was hit by complaints from residents and said that he did not grant permission for a circus in their town but also stated that he could not block it.
‘Thank you State Police, Carabinieri, Firefighters, Local and Provincial Police, ASL and all the volunteers who served during these hours of great learning.
‘I hope this episode can raise some conscience, and that we can finally put an end to animal exploitation in circuses.’
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
