This is the moment a huge lion was spotted on the loose in a sleepy Mexican town.
A passer-by captured the feline on camera soon after it escaped from its enclosure in San Pedro Cholula, west of Mexico City, on Wednesday.
The lion was seen pausing on the street as panicked locals tried to bring the big cat under control.
Later security camera footage also showed the lion stalking the streets before being escorted away by a mystery brave local.
The mayor’s office tried to reassure locals in a statement following the escape.
‘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.’
The animal was first reported to the cops and animal handlers on 7am on Wednesday.
The lion was eventually tracked down and taken home to the Recica Animal Foundation where it had escaped from.
Separate surveillance camera images reveal the path the lion took through the town.
(Picture: @MarioBeteta / X)
They showed the predatory feline prancing through a different area of the city.
Another still images shows a brave man escorting the lion past an open metal gate
‘A lion escaped from a sanctuary in Ocoyoacac, Edomex, and was seen wandering the streets of San Pedro Cholula,’ journalist Oscar Mario Beteta said.
‘Residents alerted authorities, but the feline returned to the sanctuary on its own without incident.’
The ordeal was a scary reminder of when a 440-pound male bengal tiger was seen lurking the streets of Tecuala, in the Mexican state of Nayarit, in June 2022.
The ownership of wild animals is legal in Mexico with a permit provided by the Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection.
In November 2023, residents of the seaside town of Ladispoli captured similar footage of a lion on the loose.
The feline had escaped from a local circus, with locals told to stay at home before the animal was recaptured.
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