The escape of the lion “Kimba” from a circus in the Italian coastal town of Ladispoli near Rome, which roiled an entire community on Saturday, is now having consequences for circus operators. The circus “Ronny Roller” is still allowed to hold performances, but must do so without predators. The ringmaster is also threatened with criminal charges.
Ring director Ronny Vassallo reached this compromise with the mayor of Ladispoli, Alessandro Grando, as he reported on Facebook. The circus director is now accused of neglecting his supervisory duties.
Lion roamed the city
The predator roamed the city of 40,000 north of Rome for hours on Saturday. Hundreds of residents fled to their homes. Only in the evening was it possible to anesthetize the lion with the help of an arrow with a syringe and return it to the cage.
Was the cage opened intentionally?
Local authorities are currently investigating how the lion escaped from its metal enclosure. “What happened is very strange. All we can say is that a lion does not have the ability to open a bolt and pick a lock,” said Vassallo. He did not rule out that the predator’s cage had been deliberately opened to allow it to escape and complained of sabotage. The traveling circus is in Ladispoli from November 9 to 19.
A dispute over circus performances involving exotic animals has been raging in Italy for years. Ringmasters have been repeatedly accused of animal cruelty. 2,000 animals are used in Italian circuses.
The animal protection association LAV is calling for a ban on circus animals modeled on ‘Cirque du Soleil’, which uses no animals at all. According to surveys, 70 percent of Italians are against the use of animals in circuses, the animal protection organization reports.
Environmentalists are demanding that animals in circuses be gradually banned. The Italian circus association is fighting this: Italian laws are already among the strictest in Europe, and the planned change would restrict the art.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
