An "escaped" lion terrorizes the Italian town near Rome

An escaped lion from the circus has sent shivers down the spine of the Italian town of Ladispoli, which is located very close to Rome.

The lion was seen walking the streets of the Italian coastal city for several hours after escaping from the circus with veterinarians and police forces mobilized to capture it, without harming the animal or residents.

The authorities also mobilized a helicopter, which flew over the area and after identifying the lion in a cultivated field thanks to thermal cameras, it was then engaged to follow the animal in its every move.

So, the mayor Alessandro Grando after receiving the news about the escape of the lion from the circus, warned the residents to stay at home.

The citizens of Ladispoli then published a video on social media showing the giant cat walking through the dark and deserted streets on Saturday evening.

In a Facebook post, more than five hours after his original message raised the alarm in the city, Grando informed the community that the "beast," named Kimba, had been captured.

" Now he has been taken over by the circus staff ," the mayor wrote on social networks.

" I hope that this episode will stir some consciences and that we can finally put an end to the exploitation of animals in the circus ," he added.

He further said that he had not authorized the presence of a lion circus in the city, but emphasized that he had no power to prevent it. (A2 Televizion)