Pet lioness roams around Dubai neighbourhood before being captured

The big cat is believed to belong to someone in the area.

A lioness was captured by the animal-welfare unit in the Al Barsha neighbourhood of Dubai on January 21, 2015, after escaping from its owner’s property. Dubai Municipality

DUBAI // A lioness was reported on the loose in Dubai’s Al Barsha neighbourhood on Thursday evening.

The lioness is believed to have escaped from its owner’s home in the area.

Police said they received phone calls from concerned residents who spotted the animal at around 7pm.

“We’ve received phone calls about the incident. An emergency dispatch unit from the Dubai Municipality’s animal-welfare unit was sent to the scene,” a police spokesperson said.

Bystanders said they saw members of the animal-welfare unit sedate the animal and remove it in a caged vehicle.

The area was closed to traffic by police during the incident.

Dubai Municipality said the lion was moved Friday morning to Dubai Zoo, where it will be cared for by veterinarians.