Iraq's Environment Police deny reports of escaped lion north of Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Interior Ministry Environment Police Directorate on Sunday rejected social media reports claiming a lion had escaped in the Taji shoreline area north of Baghdad, saying no such escape had been detected. In a statement, the directorate said security units had carried out intensive searches over the past three days at farms and protected areas in the region. The operations found no evidence of a lion on the loose, and the directorate described the situation in the area as fully safe and stable. The Environment Police said animal tracks or isolated cases of animal killings do not prove the presence of a free-roaming lion. It urged residents not to worry and called on the public to disregard unverified reports and rumors that could cause anxiety among families. The directorate added that its units remain fully prepared to respond to any emergency.