Anxiety gripped the Dong Community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday following the escape of a hyena from the wildlife park.
The hyena reportedly escaped from its confinement at the park on Sunday, causing panic among residents of Dong and the neighboring state and Federal Low-Cost estates.
The General Manager of the Plateau State Tourism Corporation, Chuwang Pwajok, confirmed the incident in a voice message sent to our correspondent in Jos. Pwajok assured residents that efforts were underway to track down the wild animal, stating, “I received a report yesterday of a hyena escaping from its enclosure at the Jos Wildlife Park and immediately directed all our staff, especially the park rangers and animal keepers, to take immediate steps to locate the animal. The effort has been ongoing since yesterday all through today. The report reaching me at the Jos Wildlife unit indicates that the animal is likely to remain close to the park because it hasn’t acclimated to the surrounding environment.”
He continued, “The park is quite a large area, and all hands are on deck to locate the animal and lure it back into its enclosure. We are doing our best to ensure there is no harm to people within the park and even the animals. We have sent out information to the public about what has happened.”
Pwajok also dismissed rumors that the hyena had escaped due to hunger and starvation. He said, “I want to address some misconceptions regarding the animal’s escape. I urge the public to avoid spreading unverified information on social media. Some claim the hyena left its enclosure due to hunger, which is far from the truth. Visitors who have been to the park recently will attest that our animals are healthier now because Governor Caleb Mutfwang has approved increased funding for their care. The resources for feeding these animals have been consistently provided.
“One of our major priorities at the Plateau Tourism Corporation has been the Jos Wildlife Park. While the park faces challenges due to years of neglect, these issues are being addressed. Many of the cages are old, but we are actively managing the situation. I am pleased to report that significant measures are in place to rehabilitate and modernize the cages. The rumor that the escape is due to hunger is entirely unfounded
In 2015, a lion escaped from its cage at the park and was shot dead by security operatives during efforts to capture it. The lion was subsequently replaced by the state government about a year later.