14 lions have been spotted roaming in the Phalaborwa area. Residents are warned to take caution.
The Limpopo government has confirmed the lions were seen wandering around the Phalaborwa Foskor Mine.
@LimpopoLEDET confirms sighting of about fourteen lions roaming around Phalaborwa Foskor Mine.
It is suspected that the lions escaped from Kruger National Park. LEDET has allocated Field Rangers to closely monitor the Pride’s movement prior action to be taken.
— Limpopo Government (@OtpLimpopo) June 7, 2019
The lions are believed to have escaped from the Kruger National Park. According to the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), the lions will be captured and released back into the national park.
In a statement, LEDET warned employees of the mine and members of the public to be on alert.
UPDATE
SANParks has said in a statement that the lions are not from the Kruger National Park.
Speaking to Times Live, SANParks spokesperson Isaac Phaahla said “SANParks is not certain these are Kruger lions. Indications are that the pride established this area as theirs some time back and the department, which is the authority in Limpopo, was made aware. The agency never dealt with the problem until it became a public issue.”
Phaahla continued, “SANParks has facilitated a meeting that resolved that the department should lead a process to relocate the pride with the help of other stakeholders. There are protocols that the department is familiar with. How they landed where they are is still a mystery and SANParks will not want speculate.”
Image source: Unsplash
