An escaped lion was spotted stalking the streets of a sleepy town in Mexico.
The giant beast was captured on video by a passer-by after it got loose in San Pedro Cholula, west of Mexico City, on Wednesday.
The animal was seen pausing for a moment on a sidewalk as the witness drove by in a vehicle.
Concerned residents alerted authorities after seeing the lion wandering through local avenues.
The mayor’s office said in a statement that it was investigating the incident.
‘The animal was quickly captured and the relevant investigations have been initiated to determine the origin of the incident and prevent future incidents,’ the mayor’s office said.
‘Likewise, the necessary checks will be carried out to reinforce security measures in the area.’
A separate still image from a surveillance camera showed a person escorting the lion past an open metal gate.
The lion was captured on video by a passer-by after it got loose in San Pedro Cholula, west of Mexico City, on Wednesday
The animal was seen pausing for a moment on a sidewalk as the witness drove by
A separate still image from a surveillance camera showed a person escorting the lion past an open metal gate
Some residents initially wondered if the lion had escaped from an animal sanctuary set up on the property once owned by the alleged leader of a gang linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The property made headlines in November 2024 after police rescued 27 wild animals from the sanctuary, including tigers, lions, panthers and wolves.
At least 40 people were arrested on charges of having ties to criminal organization.
The incident is reminiscent of another in which a 440-pound male bengal tiger was seen roaming the streets of Tecuala, in the Mexican state of Nayarit, in June 2022.
The Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection at the time found that the tiger was missing its claws but its fangs were intact, and it was ‘in good health and without apparent physical injuries.’
A month later, at least 177 lions, tigers, jaguars, and other exotic big cats were found living in deplorable conditions at an animal rescue center in Mexico City.
The ownership of wild animals is legal in Mexico with a permit provided by the Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection.
