Loose Lion Caught at Florida Animal Sanctuary

Authorities have tranquilized and captured a lion that went on the loose at a Florida animal sanctuary.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office's Agricultural Unit assisted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the capture at the Survival Outreach Sanctuary at 22005 Bowman Road in Spring Hill, WFLA reported.

FWC spokesman Gary Morse said the adult male lion escaped from an inner enclosure at the sanctuary.

Crews were able to locate the lion and later tranquilized it, Morse and sheriff's spokeswoman Melanie Snow said.

Morse said authorities set up a perimeter around the sanctuary to catch the 7-year-old female lion. No injuries were reported.

The sanctuary provides permanent homes to abused unwanted and abandoned exotic animals of all species, according to its website.

Authroities are investigating how the lion may have gotten loose.

Spring Hill is about 35 miles north of Tampa.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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