Lion in Fujairah: Terror on the loose

Residents of a small town in Fujairah are living in a state of fear after rumours spread that an escaped lion is roaming the area.

The lion is believed to be behind a string of goat deaths near the town of Bidiya, which lies between Dibba and Khor Fakkan. The town houses the UAE’s oldest mosque.

The community, made up of government and military employees and farmers, were shocked to hear that a lion has been spotted around town.

The rumours surfaced after someone in the area allegedly lost a pet lion cub while visiting the Wadi Wuraya Mountains west of town.

Skulls, bones and rotting carcasses of 74 goats said to have been killed by the alleged beast lie scattered all along the dry wadi bed that runs between the residential area and Bidiya farms.

Fatima Saeed is one of the two people who claim to have seen the lion. On February 27, Fatima said she went out with her two maids to look for some firewood.

“I was cutting wood, when suddenly one of the maids clutched my arm,” says Fatima.
“I turned to see what was the matter and I froze in fear as I watched a lion slowly walking down the mountain and rest at the edge of the wadi – a few metres away from us.

“I grabbed the largest piece of wood I could find close by to protect myself. But to my surprise the lion seemed least interested in us. It seemed tame since it was playing with its tail and jumping around indicating it was comfortable being around humans; as if it was domesticated.” she said.

While her family reported the incident to the local police, Fatima does not want anything to happen to the animal. “I don’t want it killed, just moved away from here,” she says.

On March 3, Al Bidiya resident Fadil Ahmad was driving along with his family to Fujairah when he claims he saw an animal that resembled a lion crossing the road with something in its mouth. “I’m sure it’s not a dog, it’s too big to be a dog,” says Ahmad, who reported the sighting to police.

Ali Mohammad, 28, a farmer from Fujairah, however, does not agree: “I don’t believe it. Considering the large number of goats kills, I think it was most likely wild dogs prevalent in the area,” said the father of three.

Mohammad Khamis, a retired military officer who trades with farmers in Bidiya, says: “We have always been told about an animal, similar to a fox, which would only kill to drink the blood of its prey, leaving the body intact.”

His brother-in-law, Juma Mohammad, a farmer, lost numerous goats in the last few weeks.

A spokesperson for Fujairah police confirmed that they received a few calls about sightings of a lion, but have found no evidence in the area. As a precautionary measure, they have increased patrols in areas where people claim to have seen the animal.