Comments on: “African Lion” Reported In North Carolina

By: Matt_J

Matt_J — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:11:10 +0000

Redneck:

I didn’t know they moved the big cat preserve from Chatham county. When I heard something about a big cat preserve, I thought of them, first, but then I wondered how a lion would make from Chatham up to Caswell without being seen as there’s a lot of population and I-40 in between.
Thanks for that update. It makes a little more sense now, from the “escapee” standpoint.

By: PhotoExpert

PhotoExpert — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:10:40 +0000

Interesting story! There are not enough solid or credible eyewitness accounts of sightings that would lead me to speculation, as to what it is or is not. I think we need a few more credible sightings to make a determination on this one.

By: archer1945

archer1945 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:36:33 +0000

Wasn’t there a report earlier this year or late last year about someone sighting a big cat that wasn’t a cougar somewhere in the Carolinas?

By: STS

STS — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:54:11 +0000

There have been reports of big cats in the Richmond/Montgomery area for several years. Carcasses found torn to shreds. Several sightings by pretty reputable people. You never know what you might find out there.

By: Lightning Orb

Lightning Orb — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:30:57 +0000

Even if the thing was just a mountain lion, people there would probably report it as an African lion anyway, if only because of the big cat sanctuary; it seems like people believe there to be cougars there, but they probably wouldn’t report them as that if the police were insistant they didn’t exist in the area. Strange though how in this case African lion could be considered more acceptable than good old American cougar…

By: Spinach Village

Spinach Village — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:22:03 +0000

well, this is interesting..

By: HOOSIERHUNTER

HOOSIERHUNTER — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:32:19 +0000

Very interesting–makes me wonder how much else is not being reported out there. That the news said they heard nothing about it doesn’t surprise me. No one is anxious to publicize a story of a loose lion unless they have no choice. If, in fact, it did escape from a preserve then hopefully those people are able to capture it and that may be why its not being reported–to keep gawkers out of harm’s way and keep people in the area from panicking and making the matter worse. Of course I do have to say as a citizen I’d rather know just so I could keep a watch. Children and pets might make a tempting target for a hungry lion.

By: Richard888

Richard888 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:35:13 +0000

Interesting story. I believe that a female African (American?) lion would make a very different visual impression from a cougar. That applies even if the lion is out of place (seen in the habitat range of the cougar) and the observer is untrained. To confuse a lion for a cougar is somewhat equivalent to confusing a grey fox for a grey wolf, IMHO.

By: rantingredneck

rantingredneck — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:24:14 +0000

Wow, I didn’t expect to be quoted on another site :).

I am the original author of the above quoted post at thefiringline.com where I am an active member. I post under the same “nomme de internet” at thehighroad.org and carolinashootersforum.com among others.

The above account is true as I heard it. The fellow who told me about it is a long time employee and a trusted source.

There is a preserve of sorts for lions, tigers and other exotic animals in Caswell county. I believe it is the same preserve that used to be in Chatham County, but am not completely sure about that.

A fellow member of thefiringline now has posted that he heard this reported on WXII, a local TV station. I personally have not seen anything in the local news or in any online news source. In searching for news on this I find myself quoted here. Interesting……:)

By: cryptidsrus

cryptidsrus — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:05:42 +0000

Good story.

Yeah, the fact there is a wildlife reserve does give one pause for concern. Hopefully there will be no more “sightings.”