Update: 14 free-roaming lions ‘going nowhere’

BREAKING: The Limpopo Economic Development, Environment & Tourism MEC Thabo Mokone has just told @eNCA that the 14 #Phalaborwa #lions are going nowhere. Stakeholders in the area will be meeting soon to decide how best to manage the situation. No darting, no translocation. pic.twitter.com/JUSgboVMHn

— Michael 🍏 (@TheMikeAppel) June 8, 2019

WATCH: The 14 #Phalaborwa #lions will not be darted and translocated. Here's why: https://t.co/3aOgv2GAkN @eNCA pic.twitter.com/TZuyVo56ir

— Michael 🍏 (@TheMikeAppel) June 8, 2019

Full update in this weeks edition of Phalaborwa Herald.

Letaba Herald reported on Friday, 7 June that The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) confirmed the sighting of about fourteen lions roaming around Phalaborwa Foskor Mine.

According to Zaid Kalla, LEDET provincial spokesperson, it is suspected that the lions escaped from Kruger National Park (KNP) and that LEDET has allocated field rangers to closely monitor the pride’s movement prior to action to be taken.

“We want to assure the public that they need not panic as the situation is under control and at the moment the department and other stakeholders are waiting for the necessary equipment to transport the lions back to the KNP,” Kalla said.

A source told Letaba Herald that it is not the first time this year a pride of lions has been seen by the public roaming around that area.

Read:  Lion on the loose close to Phalaborwa

 On 14 February, Ronica Jansen posted a photo on her Facebook page of a pride of lions and also another local resident took a photo of lions in that area in April.

Read:  KNP: 2-year-old mauled to death by leopard in Malelane camp

Jansen said that she found a big pride of lions crossing  the road from Shona Langa Gate to the main road from Lepelle.

“It has been happening for a while now the lions have been in and out of this area.

“I believe the reason people don’t know about it is because in the previous incidences no one reported it to the relevant authorities.

“This area has a lot of hyenas which I think the lions may be after,” said the source.

Kalla added that Foskor mine and members of the public are hereby advised to be alert at all times. Herald will give an update as the story unfolds.