A large police search in Essex, triggered by ‘lion’ sightings, ends. It was likely a large cat, possibly a pet.
Sue Wright saw a “lion” by a caravan park and took a blurry photo on a Sunday evening. The police saw the picture and started a big search. This event all began because of Sue. Fake photos posted on Facebook and Twitter added to the town’s panic.
Stephen and Gill Atkin took unclear pictures that seemed to show a large cat in the fields nearby. Over 30 police officers joined the search, and specialist marksmen also helped. Two helicopters used heat-seeking cameras to find the wild animal fast.
It might have been Tom, a ginger cat who lived at a local care home. A carer at the home spoke about Tom, saying he hunts mice, rats, and hares. She stated he was out on Sunday, and his color makes him look like a lion.
The carer clarified that Tom is not dangerous and really just wants affection. Thousands of people were told to stay inside. Colchester Zoo keepers joined the hunt, carrying tranquilizer guns, just in case. Everyone wanted people to be safe.
Officials checked on Colchester Zoo’s lions and made sure all were present. They also checked with the Great British Circus, which had toured locally, asking about escaped animals. The circus owner said he had no lions and gave them away years ago.
Police found no lion signs, after all. In conclusion, Essex Police made a statement saying they thought it was a large cat and thanked everyone for their help.