Lion Escapes Circus in Italian Seaside Town
A lion prowled the streets of an Italian seaside town for several hours Saturday after escaping from a local circus, before being sedated and captured. The lion posed no threat to the public, his handler insisted Sunday, as campaigners called for Italy to ban wild animals in entertainment.
Residents of the seaside town of Ladispoli were told to stay indoors for more than five hours on Saturday evening while police, vets and circus staff tracked the lion, finally sedating and then capturing him.
Extraordinary videos published by Italian media, apparently taken by locals, showed the fully-grown lion with a shaggy mane walking through dark and deserted residential streets, padding past parked cars. The animal was also seen on infrared camera from a police helicopter.
But Rony Vassallo, who is responsible for the animals in the Rony Roller Circus, said that while the thought of confronting a lion would make most people fearful, eight-year-old Kimba posed little danger.
"He met with people in an environment he wasn't used to... and nothing happened, he didn't even for a second have the instinct to attack a person," he told AFP at the circus site.
According to a circus handler, his concern was that someone could have harmed the animal out of fear or excessive enthusiasm.
Not too far from the main tent, where the afternoon show was being prepared, a newly captured lion was pacing inside his cage, occasionally letting out roars.
The handler, named Vassallo, mentioned that Kimba, the lion, was only lightly sedated and woke up almost immediately. Veterinary examinations confirmed that Kimba had no negative effects from his little adventure.
Vassallo, who comes from a family that runs the traveling circus, stated that they were all very shaken and tense after the lion's escape, which he believed was not accidental.
An hour before the lion's escapade, Vassallo personally checked the cage and found everything in order.
Vassallo declined to comment on reports of sabotage, such as the forced lock, stating that an investigation was currently underway.
However, he did mention that this had never happened before and found it to be very strange.
Vassallo demonstrated how the door to the metal cage opens inwards and is secured with a sliding bolt and a lightweight chain with a small padlock.
"He was scared out of his mind"
Kimba, along with his two brothers Zeus and Ivan, and sister Maya, was born and raised in captivity.
There are nine big cats at the circus, including tigers, along with elephants, camels, horses, and even bison.
Animal rights campaigners have expressed their disapproval of the circus, claiming that keeping such wild animals is cruel.
More than 20 European countries have either banned or heavily restricted the use of animals in circuses. However, Italy is not yet one of them.
A law has been drafted but has been delayed until 2024, according to the LAV campaign group. They estimate that there are just under 2,000 animals held in circuses across Italy.
The incident in Ladispoli "highlights the dangers of circuses with animals from the point of view of public security," said animal rights group OIPA.
It also brings attention to "the discomfort of poor creatures forced into captivity for entertainment," they added.
Ladispoli mayor Alessandro Grando, who had advised residents to stay at home on Saturday, has also called for a change in the law.
"I hope that this incident can raise awareness and finally put an end to the exploitation of animals in circuses," he wrote on Facebook.
However, Vassallo, the circus spokesperson, stated that critics "don't know the reality of the facts, how animals are treated in circuses, of the checks that are carried out."
In a previous Facebook post, it was stated that the circus with animals was brought to Ladispoli without the authorization of the mayor. The mayor clarified that it was not his responsibility to authorize it and unfortunately, they couldn't forbid circuses with animals from coming to the city.
In 2017, the town attempted to stop the circus from coming, but they lost the legal challenge and had to reimburse the legal fees to the plaintiffs.
Residents in the surrounding neighborhood expressed support for the circus and were more concerned about the lion than public safety. One resident, Barbara Rosolino, mentioned being scared initially but realized from the videos that the lion was well-behaved and seemed scared.
It is important to note that this incident occurred shortly after authorities in Germany warned about a possible lioness on the loose near Berlin. However, after a search, no sign of the predator was found, and experts concluded that it was likely a wild boar.
