Kruger Lions Still on the Loose (x2)
Conservation authorities on Tuesday continued their search for lions that escaped from the Kruger National Park.
Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks agency spokesperson Jimmy Masombuka said they were searching for the two remaining beasts. Two others that escaped had since been killed.
"We are busy monitoring the situation and taking part in a joint search effort with community members and Kruger personnel."
Masombuka said many sightings by the public had proved, after further investigation, to be false alarms.
The lions seem still to be in in the vicinity of the town of Emdlankomo in the Nelspruit area, near the place where they left the park through a break in the fence on Friday.
Two have been killed - one was hit by a train on Saturday and the second was shot on Monday night after it was found eating a cow.
Masombuka said the agency received a tip-off about the whereabouts of the lion, surrounded the area and killed it.
He said they had to kill the animal. "Because it's tasted a cow, it's going to be a problem and a danger to the livestock," he said.
Masombuka said it seemed the lions were much more active at night than during the heat of the day.
The search was difficult, partly because the area was heavily wooded.
"They can smell you at a distance and they hide themselves very quickly," he said.
However, Masombuka said the agency would not rest until they had found the remaining lions. "We are not going to stop the search until we make sure that everybody is safe. However, we'd like to urge the community to work hand-in-glove with us", he said.
He urged members of the community to report sightings to the agency.
Authorities are also monitoring the park fence to see if the lions had not returned to the park.
Villagers living next to the Kruger may be to blame for the recent escape.
Masombuka said that villagers often remove some of the Park's fencing to either use the material or to sell it. Masombuka has issued a serious warning against such actions.
** UPDATE, 04/10 **
Separately and further north, two more cattle have been killed by lions at Mahlathi village, in Limpopo. This brings the number of cattle killed to 49 since last month. The lions escaped from the Kruger National Park. Park spokesperson, Raymond Travers says animals that have escaped are no longer their responsibility.
Meanwhile, the environmental affairs department in the province says it has sent rangers to assist in the hunt for lions and farmers can kill the animals. However, the spokesperson for the department Lehlohonolo Masoga says farmers will not be compensated for their loss. Lions have also been terrorizing communities in Mpumalanga in past weeks.
** UPDATE, 06/10 **
Rangers and communal farmers have snared and killed two lions at Mahlathi village outside Giyani in Limpopo. This brings to three the number of lions killed so far. The lions escaped from the northern side of the Kruger National Park at the beginning of last month. It is believed four lions escaped.
The lions are believed to have killed 49 cattle since last month. Environmental Affairs authorities have given permission to affected communities to kill the animals. Lions have also been terrorising communities in Mpumalanga in the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Affairs department in the province says it has sent rangers to assist in the hunt for lions and farmers can kill the animals.
Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks agency spokesperson Jimmy Masombuka said they were searching for the two remaining beasts. Two others that escaped had since been killed.
"We are busy monitoring the situation and taking part in a joint search effort with community members and Kruger personnel."
Masombuka said many sightings by the public had proved, after further investigation, to be false alarms.
The lions seem still to be in in the vicinity of the town of Emdlankomo in the Nelspruit area, near the place where they left the park through a break in the fence on Friday.
Two have been killed - one was hit by a train on Saturday and the second was shot on Monday night after it was found eating a cow.
Masombuka said the agency received a tip-off about the whereabouts of the lion, surrounded the area and killed it.
He said they had to kill the animal. "Because it's tasted a cow, it's going to be a problem and a danger to the livestock," he said.
Masombuka said it seemed the lions were much more active at night than during the heat of the day.
The search was difficult, partly because the area was heavily wooded.
"They can smell you at a distance and they hide themselves very quickly," he said.
However, Masombuka said the agency would not rest until they had found the remaining lions. "We are not going to stop the search until we make sure that everybody is safe. However, we'd like to urge the community to work hand-in-glove with us", he said.
He urged members of the community to report sightings to the agency.
Authorities are also monitoring the park fence to see if the lions had not returned to the park.
Villagers living next to the Kruger may be to blame for the recent escape.
Masombuka said that villagers often remove some of the Park's fencing to either use the material or to sell it. Masombuka has issued a serious warning against such actions.
** UPDATE, 04/10 **
Separately and further north, two more cattle have been killed by lions at Mahlathi village, in Limpopo. This brings the number of cattle killed to 49 since last month. The lions escaped from the Kruger National Park. Park spokesperson, Raymond Travers says animals that have escaped are no longer their responsibility.
Meanwhile, the environmental affairs department in the province says it has sent rangers to assist in the hunt for lions and farmers can kill the animals. However, the spokesperson for the department Lehlohonolo Masoga says farmers will not be compensated for their loss. Lions have also been terrorizing communities in Mpumalanga in past weeks.
** UPDATE, 06/10 **
Rangers and communal farmers have snared and killed two lions at Mahlathi village outside Giyani in Limpopo. This brings to three the number of lions killed so far. The lions escaped from the northern side of the Kruger National Park at the beginning of last month. It is believed four lions escaped.
The lions are believed to have killed 49 cattle since last month. Environmental Affairs authorities have given permission to affected communities to kill the animals. Lions have also been terrorising communities in Mpumalanga in the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Affairs department in the province says it has sent rangers to assist in the hunt for lions and farmers can kill the animals.
Labels: escaped animals, lions, nelspruit
posted by Kruger2Canyons.com at
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
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