Jerash lion claims unfounded — RSCN

AMMAN — There are no signs that a lion is roaming the forests of Jerash Governorate, 48 kilometres north of Amman, as alleged on social media, a conservationist said on Saturday.

The Rangers and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) have followed up on the claims and inspected the area but found no signs of a lion there, RSCN Director General Yehya Khaled said.

Last week, one man claimed to authorities that he saw a wild animal “that seemed like a lion”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Thursday. 

However, when asked to provide a description of the animal, his descriptions were allegedly contradictory, Petra reported, adding that no reports have been filed of any animal attack in the area, while several shepherds interviewed by the agency said that their herds had not been attacked by any wild animal.

“Lions are not found in the wild in Jordan. The society and authorities checked the area and found no signs of a lion,” Khaled told The Jordan Times.

In addition, the RSCN checked with the Jerash-based Maawa Foundation, a local animal welfare institution that rehabilitates smuggled animals and sends them back to their homeland, to make sure that no animals have escaped, according to Khaled.

“No animals have escaped the Maawa Foundation,” he added.

Khaled highlighted that the society deals with similar claims in different parts of the country.