It was learnt that the Monday incident has created panic in Jos and neighbouring areas.
A hyena has been reportedly escaped from a wildlife park in Dong Community, Jos North, Local Government Area of Plateau State.
It was learnt that the Monday incident has created panic in Jos and neighbouring areas.
The general manager of the Plateau State Tourism Corporation, Chuwang Pwajok, told PUNCH that efforts were ongoing to find the animal. While he denied rumours that the hyena escaped due to starvation.
He explained that several challenges bedevilled the park due to long years of neglect, noting that the challenges were disappearing within the Jos Wildlife Park.
He said; “The effort has been ongoing since yesterday all through today, and the report reaching me is that the Jos Wildlife unit has it clearly that the animal, the expectation at least, will not wander off far from its abode because it hasn’t been acclimatised to the surrounding environment and all it knows is the Jos Wildlife Park.
“The park is quite a huge span of land and all hands are on deck in trying to locate the animal and lure it back into its enclosure.
“So, we’re all trying our best to make sure that there’s no harm to people within the park and even the animals. We sent out information to the public, informing them of what has happened.
“I just want to use this opportunity to address some misconceptions concerning what might have led to the animal’s escape.
“I would like to plead with the general public to resist the temptation of using social media to send out unverified information. There are insinuations in some quarters that it left its enclosure due to hunger, which is far from the truth.
“If anything, those who visited the park some months back and have equally gone back recently will attest that all our animals are looking healthier than they were before because Governor Caleb Mutfwang has graciously approved an upward review for the animals at the Jos Wildlife Park.
“The resources for feeding these animals have consistently been released to this corporation.
“One of the major priority areas for the management team of the Plateau Tourism Corporation has remained the Jos Wildlife Park. Though several challenges bedevil the park due to long years of neglect, these challenges are disappearing within the Jos Wildlife Park.
“Some of the cages are old, and we have consistently helped to manage this situation. I am very happy to report that very active measures are in place.
“Very soon, all the cages will be rehabilitated and modernised, and people will see the new Jos Wildlife Park, which will give them a rewarding game-viewing experience.
“The rumour that the escape is due to hunger is, therefore, far from the truth.”