The footage showed the moment a lion was captured after it escaped from a circus and was seen running down a street near Rome.
The animal, named Kimba, was tied up, sedated and then loaded into a van after seven hours at large.
It is still unknown how the big cat managed to escape from Circus Rony Roller and where it was eventually returned to.
A frightened local shared a clip on X, formerly known as Twitter, showing the animal running through the streets of Ladispoli, home to around 40,000 people.
The woman filming was heard saying “Mamma mia” as the lion, fleeing a circus, strutted confidently down the quiet street.
Some people even remained locked in their cars. A local resident uploaded a clip showing the animal walking past his vehicle with flashing blue emergency lights in the background.
Authorities urged locals to stay in their homes while they tried to catch the big cat.
Ladispoli mayor Alessandro Grando told locals: “A lion has escaped from the circus. “Please be vigilant and avoid traveling until further notice.”
The footage showed the moment a lion was captured after it escaped from a circus and was seen running down a street near Rome
The lion had escaped from the Rony Roller circus before roaming the streets of Ladispoli
It is still unknown how Kimba escaped from his cage in the circus
The big cat was sedated and restrained before being taken back to his home in a transporter
Authorities urged locals to stay in their homes as they tried to catch the big cat known as Kimba
According to local news outlet Corriere della Sera, it took authorities about seven hours to capture the lion and when it first woke up, it had to be shot twice with tranquilizers.
The website reported that the lion managed to escape several times and was believed to have been first captured and stunned between Vialle Mediterraneo and Via Nicosia at 3pm CET.
He then managed to escape again and was given an anesthetic a second time at 8:30 p.m. before finally being captured by the police at 10:00 p.m.
Hit by complaints from residents, Mr. Grando said he had not granted a permit for a circus with animals in their town, but also said he could not block it.
He said the city tried to ban them in 2017 but lost its case in the Lazio regional administrative court.
He confirmed the big cat’s capture on Facebook and wrote: “The lion has been sedated and captured.” Now it will be taken over by the circus staff.
“Many thanks to the State Police, the Carabinieri, the firefighters, the local and provincial police, the ASL and all the volunteers who served in these hours of great learning.”
“I hope this episode can raise some awareness and that we can finally put an end to animal exploitation in circuses.”
A terrified local shared the shocking footage on X, formerly known as Twitter, which showed the animal walking through the streets of Ladispoli, home to around 40,000 people
Circus owner Ronny Vassallo told local media: “Kimba was outside his enclosure and how he found himself outside his enclosure is currently under investigation.”
“I can’t really say anything more about the circumstances of his escape, as the police and the local public prosecutor’s office are investigating.”
“I can tell you he got out and was out of his usual environment, but we were able to monitor him through the police and other authorities and he remained calm at all times.”
Standing outside the enclosure from which Kimba escaped, he added: “He was eventually sedated and taken back to the circus where he is now happily playing with his brothers.”
“Thankfully no one in the public, police or anyone involved in his capture was injured and we are grateful for that as we feared someone might use deadly force against him.”
“Besides, I can’t really say anything as an investigation is underway, but he’s fine and we’ll keep an eye on him.”
Sniper Raffaele Bisegna, who fired the arrow that calmed Kimba, described coming face to face with the animal.
He said, “When the lion saw me, he roared at me.” That roar made my hair stand on end.
‘ I hit him as he moved, as he tried to escape. It was the hardest blow of my life. Indeed, the shot of a lifetime.’
Police contacted him after Kimba escaped because he runs a wildlife agency on the outskirts of Rome that tracks and captures escaped animals.
He added: “The animal was located 50 meters from the houses and the possibility of displacing the population was discussed.”
“Kimba, who weighs 220 kilos, is a young lion, only 8 years old and potentially very aggressive.”
“He was very scared and the reaction of a frightened lion is clearly unpredictable.”
Bisegna intervened after an initial narcotic shot fired by a veterinarian hired by the circus failed to hit the mark.
He continued: “The animal was hit on the paw, which made the situation even worse.”
“The lion became nervous and slipped into a thicket of reeds and then settled in the bed of a small river.”
In order to track him down again, rescuers combed the undergrowth using infrared technology and a helicopter.
He said: “The police helicopter reported movement in a certain area.” Then we spotted him using night vision goggles with infrared cameras.
“He was at 80 meters, I approached 35 and fired the shot.” When the lion saw me, he roared and tried to run away. I hit him on the back while he was moving.
“The possibility of fatal shootings was raised, but we risked everything to prevent this.”
“Our rifles have a maximum range of 30 meters. I shot at 35 meters, which was beyond the vehicle’s potential. It was the recording of my life.”
“After the shot, the lion fell back into the water of the canal, but was soon identified thanks to the GPS installed on the arrow.”
A shocking video has captured the moment an escaped lion casually walks down a residential street in Rome
“Once the area was secured, he was collected and brought back to the circus.
“We have been running this business for 12 years and have saved everything.”
“Cattle stuck in crevasses, horses.” Wounded wolves need help. Wild boars, bears, even a giraffe.
“But the lion is the first time and I think it will be the only one.” I’m used to wild animals, but the lion’s roar made my hair stand on end.
“The fear came later, when it was all over.” As soon as the call came, I said to my family: Don’t wait for me for dinner, I’m going to catch a lion.
“They thought I was making fun of them.” After the capture, they were more excited than I was.”