Runner Finds Lion Cub Left in Field

Utrecht, Netherlands —(Map)

A jogger running in Utrecht, Netherlands came across something unusual in the middle of a field – a lion cub in a cage. The lion has now been taken to a shelter.

The young lion had been left in a cage in a field where the jogger happened to run. After the police were called, they asked a local animal doctor to help move the cub.

A jogger running in Utrecht, Netherlands came across a lion cub in a cage.
Police asked a local animal doctor to help move the cub.
The police put this picture online. They are trying to find out who left the cub.

Vanochtend kregen de collega’s een wel hele bijzondere melding in Tienhoven. ?? Iets gezien of gehoord?. Laat het ons weten #tienhoven #gevonden #getuigenoproep #politie https://t.co/g1n5VgJbn5 pic.twitter.com/HyVbgp2Izk

— PolitieStichtseVecht (@PolitieStiVe) October 7, 2018

Peter Klaver runs a special clinic near Utrecht for wild animals. He says that he has traveled around the world to deal with wild animals like lions and tigers, but he has never seen a situation like this. “The cage was not very strong and there was a danger the animal could have escaped,” he said.

Lion cub in a small cage, with blanket on top. — Peter Klaver, who runs a special clinic for wild animals, was called to move the lion.
He said the cage was not strong and “the animal could have escaped,”
(Source: Peter Klaver, DVM Exotic Animals .)

Dr. Klaver often has to stun large animals in order to move them safely, but in this case he was able to move the lion cub into his van simply by lifting the cage.

Man standing in back of an open van next to a covered cage. — Dr. Klaver says the cub is a male lion around four or five months old. He was able to move the lion cub into his van by lifting the cage.
(Source: Peter Klaver, DVM Exotic Animals .)

Dr. Klaver says he doesn’t know how the lion wound up in the field, but he thinks that maybe someone got the baby cub for a pet but changed their mind when they saw how big it was growing.

The cub has been taken to Stichting Leeuw, a group that works to put rescued big cats back in the wild. Right now the cub is being kept by itself to make sure it’s not sick and can’t make other animals sick. After some time, the group hopes to return the cub to Africa.

Van bearing pictures of wild animals following a police car. — The cub has been taken to a group that puts rescued big cats back in the wild. After some time, the group hopes to return the cub to Africa.
(Source: Peter Klaver, DVM Exotic Animals .)

Robert Kruijff, who leads Stickting Leeuw, agreed with Dr. Klaver, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this before.” He says that it’s possible the animal came from a private owner, a small animal park, or a circus.

The police are still looking for more information on the person who left the cub. Several people have pointed out that the animal could have died if the jogger had not found it.