Fourteen years on from the incident that captured the nation's attention, we revisit the remarkable story of the infamous 'Essex lion'.
On August 28, 2012, a major search operation was winding down after reports of a lion on the loose near St Osyth, close to Clacton.
The drama began on Sunday, August 26, when holidaymakers and residents reported seeing a large, cat-like animal in fields near Earls Hall Drive and Earls Hall Farm.
Several witnesses described it as resembling a lioness.
A couple, who were on holiday in St Osyth, said they watched the animal for about half an hour and described it as having the head, body, and tail of a lion.
They claimed it disappeared through a hedge when a farmer entered the field.
Another holidaymaker said that a lion was "the first thing that came to mind" when he and his wife saw the animal near a tree.
Essex Police took the reports seriously and launched a full-scale search of the area.
About 25 officers were involved in the operation, including specialist firearms officers.
Police helicopters were deployed, and staff from Colchester Zoo arrived with tranquiliser equipment.
Residents were advised to stay indoors overnight, and caution was urged for anyone in the surrounding countryside.
The story quickly made national headlines, with news crews arriving in St Osyth and social media buzzing with jokes, memes, and speculation.
An @essexlion Twitter account gained tens of thousands of followers in a matter of hours.
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Some believed the animal could have escaped from Colchester Zoo or from a circus that had recently visited the area.
However, the zoo confirmed all animals were accounted for, and the circus stated it did not have any lions.
After nearly 24 hours of searching, police called off the operation on Monday, August 27, stating there was no evidence of a lion in the area.
They suggested the animal could have been a large domestic cat or a wildcat.
On August 28, a resident of St Osyth, Ginny Murphy, suggested the animal might have been her three-year-old Maine Coon cat, Teddy Bear.
The ginger cat was said to measure about 28 inches long and regularly roamed the same fields where the sightings occurred.
Maine Coons are among the largest domestic cat breeds, and Murphy believed Teddy Bear looked identical to the animal pictured by witnesses.
However, some remained unconvinced, insisting the animal was far larger than a pet cat.
No lion was ever found, and the mystery remains unsolved.
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