The South African National Parks (SANParks) search team has successfully darted the escaped lion from Karoo National Park outside Beaufort West. A veterinarian is present at the scene with the re-captured lion at the moment.
The lion was darted from the air in a difficult terrain high up in the mountains and will need to be transported in a stretcher, on foot, for 3km to the nearest awaiting vehicle.
SANParks CEO, Fundisile Mketeni would like to commend the Park Management and the tracking team for a job well done under tremendous strain and weather conditions.
After the public outrage yesterday, South African National Parks (SANparks) has decided that their decision to put Sylvester the lion down, has been “premature”.
Yesterday saw picketing, petitions and condemnation of the decision on social media and Roodepoort residents did not stay quiet. When asked whether they condoned the killing readers said no without exception.
Debate: Sylvester the “Houdini” lion on the run again
Here are some of the comments:
• Natasha Rabie wrote ” NO! Absolutely NOT! He escaped because of the rain that washed away the sand beneath the fences. Rather ensure the fences go deeper in the ground, so every dog that escapes through a whole in the ground must also be put down? Nee se g*t man!”
• Colette and Kobie Morton wrote “Take him to Kruger National park where he can run freely. They are keeping him boxed up in a freaken match box park and wonder why he escaped! If he is so bad at trespassing, and God knows what I read about his escaping today, explain to me why does murderers and rapists don’t get to be put down when they trespass? It is illiterate people trying to run a park with wild animals that needs to be punished. They are the ones that is supposed to have a healthy brain. But guess the lion got more brains! But please keep killing everything until we have nothing!”
• Rene Simpson wrote “No of course not. If we keep on killing our wild animals what are we going to have left between the people poaching our Rhinos and Elephants? And people like this that wants to kill an animal for being just what it is, an animal, is cruel. Isn’t SA known for it’s Big Five around the world? Soon all our animals will only be seen stuffed in museums. So sad.”
Meanwhile SANparks have announced five options they are considering.
• Returning him to the park and bettering the fencing.
• Locating the lion to another national park.
• Donating the animal to another state conservation entity.
• Donating the lion to a private conservation entity.
• Putting Sylvester down.
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