Claim: Prince of Wales School has brought in a giant lion for its centenary celebrations, Born 2 Blog has reported.
Verdict: False! The police have denied reports of celebrations with a live lion. A forensic test of the picture in question also revealed a 96% probability of forgery.
Full Text
A viral claim by the Facebook blog Born 2 blog, suggested that the Prince of Wales School had already brought a live lion into Sierra Leone for their centenary celebrations, including a Thanksgiving service scheduled for April 6, 2025. The claim sparked widespread debate, with some people expressing excitement while others raised concerns about public safety. But how true is this claim? This article explains the available evidence on celebrating the centenary anniversary with a lion, and even more importantly, makes an attempt to understand why a lion would be proposed for such a celebration.
On Facebook, Born 2 Blog posted that a live lion had already been brought to Sierra Leone to participate in the Prince of Wales School’s 100th-anniversary celebrations. This post quickly gained traction, with many users reacting and sharing their opinions. Some believed the information to be true, given the school’s historical ties to the lion as a symbol of its legacy and achievements. Others questioned the feasibility of such an act, considering the logistical, legal, and safety challenges involved in bringing a wild animal into the country for a public event.
Verification
To ascertain the truth of the post, DUBAWA examined official documents related to the matter. A letter dated March 28, 2025, from the Old Princewaleans Association (Class of 2003) to the Inspector General of Police explicitly requested police clearance to use a live lion in the centenary march past ceremony. The letter stated that the lion was to be brought from the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and would be handled by trained professionals during the event.
However, a response from the Sierra Leone Police, dated March 29, 2025, denied the request. The letter, signed by the Inspector General of Police, cited public safety, security, and order concerns. Specifically, it referenced Section 26(2)(a)(i) & (ii) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, which empowers the police to deny any activity that may threaten public peace. The police clarified that they could not allow a live lion to be paraded on the streets of Freetown during the school’s centenary celebrations.
Has a Lion Arrived in Sierra Leone?
Despite the police rejecting the request, Born 2 Blog’s claim suggests that the lion has already been brought into the country. However, there is no official or credible evidence to support this assertion. The police response indicates that the request was denied, and there have been no reports from credible sources confirming the arrival of a lion. Furthermore, importing a wild animal like a lion would require extensive clearance from wildlife conservation authorities, veterinary health regulators, and the government. There is no evidence that such clearances have been granted.
Why This Claim is False
1. Official Rejection: The Sierra Leone Police formally denied the request to use a live lion in the procession, making it highly unlikely that the school would proceed with such a plan.
2. Lack of Evidence: No credible sources, including wildlife authorities, have reported the arrival of a lion in Sierra Leone.
3. Legal and Logistical Barriers: Importing a wild animal like a lion requires multiple approvals, which have not been documented in this case.
4. Misinformation Spread: The claim appears to have been spread without verification.
DUBAWA subjected the picture to an image forensic tool, which resulted in a 96% forgery probability.
Conclusion
After examining all available evidence, DUBAWA confirmed that Born 2 Blog’s claim that a lion has already been brought to Sierra Leone for the Prince of Wales School’s centenary celebration is false.