Firefighters in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, rescued a lioness stranded on the roof of a residential home in the Felipe Ángeles neighborhood near the Rio Grande.
Around 10:30 p.m. on November 17, startled residents of Colonia Ampliación Felipe Ángeles in northwest Juárez contacted emergency services, prompting firefighters and environmental authorities to respond to reports that a large feline had escaped from an unknown residence.
Police encountered the lioness freely roaming near Rocinante and Vaca streets. The animal climbed onto a roof and leaped onto a wall before returning to the rooftop, according to the Border Report.
Juárez police requested assistance from the fire department and the Mexican army to remove the animal.
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Images released by the city government show the lioness stuck on the roof, with firefighters rescuing her and placing her into a cage.
The rescue operation required careful coordination to ensure the safety of both the animal and those involved.
Officials said the lioness was taken to the central fire station and placed under temporary care, before being transferred to the care of local environmental agencies. Authorities notified the Federal Protection Agency (PROFEPA), which will take custody of the feline.
Mexican law mandates that individuals obtain special permits to keep dangerous or protected animals, such as big cats, on their property. These permits are required to ensure proper care, safety, and conservation efforts.
The law aims to protect both the animals and the public, preventing illegal wildlife trafficking and ensuring that animals are kept in suitable conditions.
It is currently unknown who owned the loose animal.
Lionesses are agile and powerful predators, capable of reaching speeds up to 50 mph (80 km/h) in short bursts while hunting. Weighing 260-400 pounds and measuring up to 5.7 feet long, they are the primary hunters in a pride.
Authorities are now investigating the circumstances of her captivity. According to the Juárez municipal government, such incidents are not isolated and highlight the need for stricter regulations regarding exotic pets.
This marks the second instance in less than two months where Mexican authorities have discovered large felines in residential areas of the region.
In a recently abandoned house near Ojinaga, across the border from Presidio, Texas, Chihuahua state police discovered a rare liger—a hybrid of a lion and a tigress—in September. The home’s walls bore visible bullet holes.
It comes after a Bengal tiger escaped from a Quinta La Fauna Zoo in Reynosa, Mexico, on September 4, prompting warnings for residents and travelers on the U.S. side to stay vigilant.
On September 11, the tiger was captured in a trap after being on the run for nearly a week.
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