Panic in Jos as hyena escapes from wildlife park

There is reportedly panic in Jos and neighbouring states after a hyena escaped from a wildlife park on Monday.

The park is located in Dong, Jos North LGA. 

Chuwang Pwajok, general manager of the Plateau State Tourism Corporation, told The Punch on Monday that efforts are ongoing to find the animal.

He denied rumours that the hyena escaped due to starvation, stating that the wildlife is not “expected to wander”.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

Pwajok however admitted that the park has some challenges.

“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,” he said. 

“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.”