Four of The Five Escaped Kruger Park Lions Found
Officials of the Kruger National Park in South Africa have confirmed that four of the five male lions that had escaped from the park have been found and returned.
A spokesperson for SANParks – South Africa’s National Parks association – asked visitors of the Kruger National Park and residents of the greater Mpumalanga area to be on the lookout for the last lion.
On Monday authorities were alerted that five male lions were spotted on the N4 national highway at the Mananga Road crossing in Komatipoort in Mpumalanga.
SANParks official, Ike Phaahla, said that it is believed that the lions were forced out of their area by a larger group of lions.
He also said that it is possible that the lions escaped the Kruger National Park through an opening in the fence made by poachers, or that the lions dug a hole themselves. Exactly how the lions made their escape is yet to be confirmed, but according to Phaahla, they are now “deep in the Park”.
CEO of SANParks, Fundisile Mketeni, thanked the SANParks team as well as the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks agency, the SAPS, and local residents for their contribution in helping to safely find and return the lions.
“We acknowledge that the area presented challenges for the search teams, but their persistence and dedication under those difficult circumstances has ensured safe return of these animals into the KNP with no injury or loss to human life,” he said.
Another official of SANPArks, William Mabasa, said that once all the lions have been returned to the park that they will ensure additional patrolling in the park along the fences where the lions could possibly escape.
