Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — A lion, let loose in a neighborhood of Riyadh, was rescued by the Special Forces for the Environment Security (SFES) and returned to its shelter without anybody getting killed or injured.

The (SFES) spokesperson Raed Al-Maliki stated that the organization received a report about a tethered lion from the National Security Operations Center. According to the report, the lion was found confined in a pole in a residential neighborhood in Riyadh.

Al-Maliki said that the report was immediately handled, and in coordination with the National Wildlife Development Center, SFES effected the transfer of the lion to its shelter and limited the risks.

Al-Maliki said authorities are conducting a probe with the aim of finding the person responsible of this and take punitive action.

Regulatory action includes a penalty of up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to SR30 million as prescribed under the Environmental Regulations, or one of those two penalties.

Citizens are urged to report any cases of importation, export, transfer, sale, offer or acquisition of fungal organism or their proliferations.

Citizens can call the numbers 911 in Makkah and Riyadh regions and 999 for all other regions of Saudi Arabia, in order to report any infringements.