A hyena that escaped from Jos Wildlife Park in central Nigeria has been captured, according to the local tourism board. Drones and rangers conducted a search for the animal, which caused widespread panic among residents.
The tourism board confirmed in a statement that the hyena was tranquilized, captured, and returned to its enclosure. The circumstances of the escape remain unclear, though the hyena had been inside a cage.
Despite reassurances from wildlife experts that hyenas are unlikely to attack humans, many in Jos were frightened. “Hyenas are very fearful of humans and are more likely to run away than attack,” said Abba Gandu, a veteran zoo worker from Kano Zoo. He noted that hyenas typically excrete when scared.
Wildlife escapes are not new in Nigeria. In 2015, a lion was shot dead after escaping from the same park due to its hostile behavior. Similarly, in 2019, a lion in Kano state escaped during an attempt to return it to its cage after a national agricultural show but was later found after hours of searching.