G-Day! Moosp:
Rotaryman, noting your location as Australia it is probable that it was not a lion at all but a dingo in a wig.
You assume to much,, it was a Lion, left behind along with a few others from the days when they used to run a Lion park in a area here in NSW called African Lion Safari at Wallacia.
I believe that a few still live out there....
oh now pass the Cheese and Bickies.. thats a good chap!