Escaped lion rumours stir up residents

In January 1986, lions escaped from a visiting circus. Rotorua police officer Mike Keefe keeps watch from the top of Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Photo/File

Rumours of a lion escaping from Rotorua's Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park were just that, rumours.

Rotorua residents spread rumours of a lion on the loose during the weekend, leading to calls to the tourist attraction by the Rotorua District Council and concerned citizens this week.

But there was one occasion when four lions escaped from a circus visiting Rotorua in 1986.

It is not known who started the recent rumours, but Paradise Valley owner Stuart Hamlett said no one bothered to call him to check until he heard from the Rotorua Daily Post on Monday morning.

"It's a week too late for April Fools'," Mr Hamlett said.

"I heard people were saying Blomfield St was cordoned off and a cop had shot it.

"That evening [Monday], the council called me saying they had heard from a lady who was too scared to walk her dog because there was a lion on the loose.

"I also heard some people heard it on the radio as well."

Mr Hamlett said the park had safe systems in place. It had kept lions there since 1978 and had never had an escape.

"I didn't lose a moment's sleep, but when the council rang I thought I'd check the den and contact you and do a story on it."

Mr Hamlett said he had no idea how the rumour started but thought someone may have heard a red stag roaring and mistook it for a lion.

Rumours were quick to spread on social media websites with queries on the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page.

But, back in 1986 a story made the front page with photographs of a lioness on the loose in the Village Green at the Lakefront and armed police on top of buildings. Four lions escaped from their cage just after a performance of the Whirling Brothers Circus on January 31.

One was quickly recaptured, but three others kept police and circus staff on their toes for at least two hours.

The circus owner said the lions had escaped after "street kids" had thrown a poodle into the lion cage which caused them to fight among themselves.

The poodle was stolen from a Rotorua property and was killed by the lions.

Roads leading to the Lakefront reserve were closed for two hours, staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital were told to stay inside and bowlers in the Government Gardens were cleared from greens.

Police at the time were highly critical of a large number of onlookers, including parents with children, who hampered efforts to recapture them.