Director of Kitigan-Zibi police Gordon McGregor, right, and Surete Du Quebec media spokes person Melanie Larouche speak at a press conference in regards to a loose lion on the Kitigan-Zibi reserve south of Maniwaki, Que., Wednesday April 30, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
MANIWAKI, Que. - An African lion on the lam in western Quebec may be domesticated as far as lions go, but it is cold comfort to thousands of residents concerned that a few days hungry and lost in the bush might rekindle his ferocious side.
A helicopter circled the area and a search party wielded a heat-detection device Wednesday as they scoured sprawling forests near a Quebec aboriginal reserve in pursuit of the lion.
The 70-kilogram king of the jungle, which goes by the name of Boomer, has been on the lam since he escaped Tuesday night from a house where he was kept as a man's personal pet.
"People are a bit concerned I guess, people were not aware this animal was being kept in the community and now it's on the loose," said Jean-Guy Whiteduck, a former chief of the Kitigan Zibi reserve north of Ottawa.
"Everybody's concerned including the people of Maniwaki right next to us," Whiteduck said.
"We don't know what this animal will do eventually when it gets hungry. That's the fear."
The male lion, which stands about four feet tall while on all fours, was last spotted beside Highway 105, near Maniwaki.
Boomer's mane is starting to grow out now, police said.
The animal arrived in Maniwaki two days ago, purchased by a resident of the nearby reserve, Kitigan Zibi police chief Gordon McGregor said.
The owner, identified by police as Stanley Dumas Whiteduck, is helping authorities track the animal after he reported it missing to police on Tuesday night.
"It apparently didn't like its accommodations so it broke free from its enclosure or pen," McGregor said.
"We haven't had much word from it since."
The lion's presence in the aboriginal community came as a surprise to everyone.
"It's an unusual thing to have a lion," Whiteduck said.
"In our community, people are scattered kilometres apart from each other, so a person's living in the bush and nobody knew he was keeping the animal."
The police were equally unaware that Boomer had come to live in the community.
"At 8 a.m. (Wednesday) I was advised of a lion in the community and I thought to myself, 'What else could go wrong today,"' McGregor said.
"I was stunned."
McGregor said police are going door to door with flyers and are asking residents to stay vigilant, keep out of the woods and watch their children closely.
"Apparently the lion is domesticated but there is some concern that its animal instincts might kick in at some point," McGregor said.
Police say they don't want to hurt the animal.
Boomer's owner insists the animal is playful and used to humans.
Schools and daycare centres have been advised of the lion's presence in the area. Police have provided extra protection.
The search party of 15 people includes police, provincial wildlife officials and a police helicopter flown in from Montreal.
Police declined to say whether Stanley Dumas Whiteduck could face legal repercussions for keeping a large beast as his pet.
"He's helping with the search," said Melanie Larouche, a spokeswoman for Quebec provincial police.
"For now, we're focusing on the search."
An official at Quebec's Natural Resources Department said an owner would need a permit to keep such an animal at home.
"We have issued no lion permits in the area," said regional spokeswoman Catherine Rooney.
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Article online since April 30th 2008, 0:00
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