A lion that became loose at a Pasco County animal sanctuary Friday morning has been located and returned to its pen.
Officials said the lion escaped its enclosure but remained on the Survival Outreach Sanctuary property, located at 22005 Bowman Road in Spring Hill. Officials said there was never any danger to the public.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse said the lion escaped from an inner enclosure at the facility.
A report indicates the USDA was at the sanctuary last February to inspect the lion's enclosure and noted signs of digging. The report states the repairs were supposed to be finished a month later.
"We are aware of the escape that occurred today and will be looking into it to determine if there were any Animal Welfare Act noncompliances that contributed to the escape," said USDA spokeswoman Tanya Espinosa.
A complete inspection of the facility and its records was conducted by the FWC. The lioness’s owner, Judy Watson was charged with one misdemeanor for conditions that led to an escape.
Pasco deputies helped set up a perimeter around the property while they tried to determine whether the lion also had escaped through an outer enclosure.
"If we had to have been up here all night through the neighborhood, we would've been here all night to hunt her," said Vernon Yates, a trapper brought in by FWC. "She was basically standing right next to a tiger cage and she wanted to play with the tiger."
Morse said after the 7-year-old female lion was located, the animal was tranquilized.
The lion was returned to an "inspected, secure cage" at the sanctuary.
"This is in all reality the best outcome that could've come from this," said FWC spokesperson Baryl Martin. "Everyone is safe, the animal is safe. And it's going to be in a new enclosure."