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Legend of the lion alive in Colorado Springs

Brian Hughes, (Colorado Springs) Gazette

Published July 23, 2008 at 7:56 a.m.
Updated July 23, 2008 at 7:56 a.m.

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An animal, possibly a lion or a big dog, roams Monday in El Paso County.

Photo by El Paso County Sheriff's Department

An animal, possibly a lion or a big dog, roams Monday in El Paso County.

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An African lion, or some other large feline predator, is loose east of Colorado Springs. Or maybe the only thing that's loose is tongues and what's roaming the plains is a lot of rumors and conspiracy theories.

Either way, last week's massive daylong search for what was reported to be an escaped lion near Calhan could be the birth of a local Bigfoot-style legend.

Residents toted six-shooters and rode the range ready to lasso the beast, while police helicopters circled overhead trying to spot it.

They found nothing, except a paw print that may or may not have been positively identified as that of an African lion.

The only proof of its existence is a blurry photograph of a large, maned - or possibly just shaggy - four-legged animal with a long tail looking back over its shoulder as it heads over a rise on the prairie never to be seen again.

But not forgotten.

In the week since, the lines have been drawn between those who want rational explanations and those who say there are things - and beasts - out there which defy explanation.

Wildlife experts, who say they were misquoted in identifying the paw print as an African lion's, are solidly on the side of the myth busters.

"If there were a lion of that size, it would have been spotted," said Michael Seraphin, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Sharon Harding-Shaw, who snapped the photo of the creature, is just as sure she saw a lion.

"I know what I saw," she said. "I'm 100 percent that was a lion."

Not only was it a lion, she said this week, but she heard it was captured at Big R, an agricultural supply store off U.S. Highway 24 in Peyton.

That rumor's been spreading; the El Paso County Sheriff 's Office has been fielding calls wanting details of how the lion was caught, sheriff 's Lt. Lari Sevene said.

Big R manager Ken Bachmann said he didn't know about any lion prowling the premises: "Believe me, the employees would've had a lot more to talk about if that were true."

For the whole story, visit the Gazette by clicking here.

Comments

  • July 23, 2008

    8:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    thecsuzoo writes:

    It doesn't have to come from a rescue or what you call "shelter". Sadly, some people keep these animals illegally as pets...remember the baby tiger cub that was rescued from Commerce city? It's possible but not probable that it is a lion.

  • July 23, 2008

    9:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    windskull writes:

    Miss 100% look at the photo reflection in VPDick Cheney`s sunglasses from a few weeks ago on the web and let`s see you say the same thing!

    Sorry lady that blurry photo you shot does not even rate the back of the puzzle page in those grocery check stand tabloids

    The money wasted flying police helicopters around for nothing likely would have fed every homeless person in the state for 3 to 5 days!

    When you think back to last week where the news was filled with stories of police car-pooling due to fuel costs this shutterbug darn well better be breaking out her checkbook to foot the bill for this fiasco!

  • July 23, 2008

    9:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jazzyhali writes:

    Where's all the mauled animals? Lion's got to eat right? Media must be having a hard time with news right now.

  • July 23, 2008

    9:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    twister36 writes:

    Couldn't this also be a Giant Alaskan Malamute? I own two malamutes, and my oldest malamute's father would easily be mistaken for a male lion from a distance as well. He is the most intimidating dog I've ever seen, due to size. He has a similar type mane on his head, wide body, and large tail that would stand up or curl when he walks. His paws are larger then my face... and would leave very large paw prints. Therefore I am not saying it wasn't a lion, but it could have been a large Malamute too…

  • July 23, 2008

    9:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RealifeTauren writes:

    Is this where we revisit the Christians vs. Atheist blog battle that occurred when the original story broke? I need some entertaining today.

  • July 23, 2008

    9:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    hlucki writes:

    I wish she would have said what drugs she was on.