The police shot a lion roaming along a highway on Sept. 7. The female lion was about 1.5 meters long and weighed over 450 pounds. (Photo/Anhuinews.com)
(ECNS) --Police have put down a lion roaming along a highway for fear of people getting hurt.
The lion was shot dead around 11 p.m. on September 7 on the highway from Jiangsu's capital Nanjing to Bengbu in Anhui province.
The story began when a truck driver surnamed Zhou saw something jump out of nowhere and bump into his vehicle. He later found it was a lion that weighed more than 450 pounds. The animal wobbled with a hurt left leg.
Zhou subsequently called the police.
As the lion approached a nearby service area, officials decided to put it down, video tape showing more than 20 gun shots.
Some people have questioned the police for wanting to kill the lion, which is a Class II national protected animal.
According to the police, the lion was in estrus and could have acted very aggressively.
"The lion was too close to the service area, and there were too many people there," said highway officer Zhang Shuke. "Also, it would take very long to request a tranquilizer gun from nearby zoos. So the police had to take extreme measures."
Zhang Hao, Deputy Director of Hefei Wild Zoo, said she might have broken the cage and ran from a truck transporting animals on the highway.
Initial investigation shows the lion belonged to a circus. She might have been illegally raised as no one has come to claim it.
