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Lions were spotted outside the Kruger National Park on Sunday and provincial authorities are continuing the search.
Picture: Brendan Seery
The search for escaped lions near the Kruger National Park is continuing into the Easter weekend.
Multiple communities bordering the park have reported possible lion sightings after four of the predators were believed to have escaped the park.
Areas near Bushbuckridge and Hazyview have reported lion sightings and officials say they will continue searching until the park confirms their return.
Dogs called to assist
Two lions were initially reported to be on the loose on Sunday, with that number rising to four by Wednesday.
A resident near Belfast sent a grainy snapshot of a lion on a tar road to the Lowvelder on Sunday, prompting the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) to begin a search.
As of Thursday, MTPA were still searching and had brought in canine reinforcements to assist.
“Our team is still on the ground searching for these lions. Today we are searching with dogs. We are confident that we will find the lions if they are still outside the park,” MTPA spokesperson Simphiwe Shungube told The Citizen.
“We advise the community to avoid any confrontation with the lions and to report sightings to the authorities,” he added.
Loss of habitat a concern
Loss of habitat and disease are listed as one of the biggest threats to the African lion population, with African Impact warning the animals could go extinct by 2050.
“Lions now occupy less than 92% of the land they once did. This loss of habitat has severe consequences. Lions no longer have access to the vast stretches of savanna grasslands they need to find food, viable mating partners and thrive as a pride,” African Impact states.
This has resulted in lions and communities interacting more frequently, while a range of illnesses have affected the lion population.
“The spread of feline herpes virus and feline immunodeficiency virus has devastated huge populations due to the low pathogeny of these diseases,” it said.
NOW READ: ‘Lion on the loose’ spotted back at Kruger National Park
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