An estimated five lions escaped the Kruger National Park to the nearby town of Marloth Park weeks ago, with task teams required to work around the clock in what is proving to be a challenging capture.
According to Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency’s (MTPA) carnivore specialist, Gerrie Camacho, five lions are suspected to have ventured into the area of Marloth before the flooding on 7 December 2021, where the heavy rains may have left the lions on the wrong side of the river, and unable to return to the Kruger.
Camacho suspects that the lions might be the same female that was spotted with three cubs in 2020, but this time it seems to be an adult female with two subadult females and one subadult male, with possibly another male.
Since then, the MTPA has been working continuously in order to safely retrieve these animals, but the surrounding dense vegetation makes using aerial support unviable.
The proximity to residents also means that the lions pose a danger to humans, ruling out darting as an option, which could lead the lions to panic, endangering nearby civilians. In addition, the lions have split up, which makes it difficult to specify the exact number of lions on the loose. The last warning from the carnivore team said they spotted the lions on 2 January 2022 close to the Swarwitpens block.
Cyclists and joggers on the block near Swartwitpens to Seekoi were advised to heed caution and report any sightings to the carnivore team.
Should you spot any of the lions, contact the rangers on 082 802 5894, the CPF chair, Nadine Edgecomb, on 082 672 4545, Gerrie Camacho on 082 353 9097, Ernst Röhm of the MTPA on 083 626 6309 or April Lukhele on 082 807 1057.
Picture: Getaway Gallery
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