Escaping Jos wildlife park lion shot dead

Last updated: 2015/12/02 at 5:16 PM

Anslem Okoro Published December 2, 2015

A lion which escaped from a wildlife park in Jos, North Central Nigeria, has been shot dead.

The park operators said the lion was shot after it attempted to attack its rescuers.

The lion, said to have been born in the park, escaped early Wednesday morning into the bush.

A source said though the lion attempted to return to its cage before it was scared away by a gunshot.

“At that time, it ran back into the bush. The lion also charged at park officials who tried to lead him back into its cage.

Consequently, security officers who had been called in had no choice than to shoot him,” said the source, even as questions are being raised as to why the lion was shot dead and not tranquilized.

John Doy, the Acting General Manager, Plateau Toursim Corporation, had raised an alarm over the sudden disappearance of the lion, which had been caged since 1972.

“The animal is still within the vicinity of the Park but our fear is that the Park is not fenced. We are struggling to recapture it, but we want members of the public to be vigilant,” Doy had said.