Ras Al Khaimah: Authorities in Ras Al Khaimah conducted a three-hour search for a missing lion cub on Monday after a picture was circulated on social media apparently showing the animal on the loose, but it turned out to be a hoax.
The image was accompanied by a voice message warning residents of She Al Zahra in the Al Barerat area to be careful and keep their children inside.
The RAK Public Works Department said it received a call about the lion at 4.30pm and a team was immediately dispatched to search for the missing animal.
The team had all the required equipment to catch the lion, including anesthesia.
But after three hours of intensive searching, nothing was found.
The search was called off when a RAK Police official told the team the picture circulated on social media was old, and that there was no animal on the loose.
The lion shown was already being looked after in a wildlife shelter in the emirate, police said.
