1978: Lawrence Lions
March 30, 2022
By AHNZ
44 Years ago today in New Zealand history, 30 March, 1978, two circus lions in their prime exited the ring after their performance and….carried on right out the door!
It was soon discovered the town of Lawrence, Otago, now had two carnivorous predators on the loose. It was as near as New Zealand has ever come to a Jurassic Park situation.
The risk was too great so after a brief effort to take the lions in alive both Sultan and Sonia were shot dead. The best Otago could do to make it up to them was to mount them at the museum where they will be visited and remembered always.
“I thought; that’s funny. I turned to Ken and said ‘Are those things supposed to be running around up there?’ and he said ‘I wouldn’t think so!’.” – Des Dougherty, RNZ (2018)
It’s a reminder of a New Zealand where exotic animals and private zoological gardens were part of our normal lives.
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Image ref. Otago Museum; thelawrencelions.com
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