Sasooni, a lioness, managed to break free from a private farm on Monday morning when the gate was unintentionally left open. After her escape, she found a quiet spot in the woods and remained motionless for approximately 20 minutes. Interestingly, her chosen location was merely four meters away from the very farm where she had been kept in captivity for the majority of her existence. It’s believed that she sought refuge in the woodland area to escape the heat, as the farm lacked suitable facilities for her to cool down. (Image courtesy of Gyeongbuk Fire Department Headquarters)
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — After the recent incident involving the death of a chimpanzee that escaped from a zoo and was subsequently tranquilized, another unfortunate event has come to light.
A rare lioness, residing on a private farm, managed to slip through an open gate on Monday morning and met her demise shortly thereafter.
The elderly lioness, believed to be around 20 years old, was discovered in the nearby woods a mere four meters away from the farm, less than an hour following her reported escape from her enclosure.
At that moment, she was found calmly seated and resting in the foliage.
However, within a mere 20 minutes of this discovery, a sharpshooter took aim at the lioness, known by the name ‘Sassooni,’ and she was swiftly and tragically shot dead.
The rescue authorities summoned to the scene, where the lioness had breached her enclosure, faced the difficult decision of whether to ‘capture’ or ‘terminate’ her.
They ultimately opted for the latter, rather than tranquilization, due to the proximity of campsites and civilian residences. Concerns over potential unintended human casualties prompted this choice.
This image shows a cage inside an animal farm in Goryeong from which a lioness escaped on Aug. 14, 2023. (Yonhap)
The lioness in question, identified as a Panthera leo, falls under the internationally endangered species classification, marking it as a species of great conservation concern.
An individual involved in the rescue operation shared, “Observing her, it seemed as though she was savoring her final moments. She exhibited minimal resistance until the unfortunate decision to end her life was made.
“She appeared at ease.” The firefighter added with regret, “The necessity of choosing to use lethal force was a result of the potential risks involved.”
An officer speculated that the lioness likely sought refuge from the intense heat in a nearby valley. Her pen lacked any sun protection, suggesting she might have found shade through an inadvertently ajar door.
It is believed that she exited through the unsecured back entrance, which had been left open after the farm manager fed her the previous day.
Lions are categorized as Class 2 endangered creatures and can only be bred following formal customs procedures in accordance with the Wildlife Protection and Management Act.
The Daegu Provincial Environment Agency is currently investigating the lioness’s origins, import details, and previous history.
A escaped chimpanzee confronts firefighters near a zoo in the southeastern city of Daegu on Aug. 11 in this photo provided by the Daegu Fire and Safety Department.
The untimely passing of Sassooni, within an hour of her escape, has evoked a wave of sympathy across social media and online communities.
Many lament the life of confinement she endured within a small enclosure. Furthermore, there is considerable criticism surrounding the decision to resort to lethal action rather than pursuing capture.
Reactions to the article concerning the lioness vary.
Comments such as “It’s disheartening, as there was a chance to apprehend her,” “Why was she killed instead of being tranquilized?” and “I feel sorrow for her; a life trapped and then terminated” reflect the sentiments shared.
There is a prevailing sentiment that this is a tragedy resulting from human self-centeredness.
In contrast, a chimpanzee that recently broke free from its enclosure at Daegu Dalseong Park was dealt with using a tranquilizer gun.
Despite the park’s proximity to a densely populated residential area, the chimpanzee remained within the confines of the zoo, allowing the use of tranquilization.
Sadly, the chimpanzee’s life was cut short due to an obstructed airway during emergency treatment following the tranquilization.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
