FAIRFIELD BEACH, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Agriculture says it's investigating whether a 400-pound lion was intentionally released from its cage this weekend.
Agriculture spokeswoman Erica Hawkins says the agency wants to know how the 2-year-old lioness ended up in a neighbor's yard Sunday in Fairfield County.
No one was hurt. Intentionally releasing a dangerous wild animal is a fifth degree felony under Ohio's exotic animal law. It's punishable by up to a year in prison.
Hawkins said the animal was registered, though its enclosure might not meet the state's temporary standards.
The lion belongs to John Moore. He worked as a caretaker for the suicidal man who freed dozens of exotic animals near Zanesville two years ago.
Moore tells WBNS-TV someone had cut chains and put turkey giblets near the lion's cage.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.