(HAWKESBURY, ON) – On Sunday February 28th, at approximately 4:20 pm, the Hawkesbury Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to assist at the Papanack Zoo situated at 150 County Road 19, Wendover in the Alfred-Plantagenet Township, as a male lion had escaped from its enclosure.
Police rapidly arrived on scene and spotted the African white adult male lion freely walking in the park entrance, an unfenced area.
OPP officers assisted the owner of the zoo with containment of the animal as public safety was the primary concern.
Due to a high risk to public safety and given the totality of circumstances, the adult male lion was executed by the zoo owner shortly before 5:30 pm this evening.
No officers or public citizens or other animals were injured during this incident.