MOTORISTS travelling on the P700 outside Ulundi got more than they bargained for this morning (Wednesday) when a male lion was spotted at the roadside.
This is the latest in a string of wildlife escapes from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) over the past six weeks, and community members living adjacent to the game reserve say they are living in fear.
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Other animals to have escaped HiP via a seemingly perpetually broken fence include a pride of six lions which were destroyed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, four elephants, two white rhino, buffalo, one black rhino and a pack of African wild dog.
Residents of the Okhukho and Nqulwane communities say, despite numerous engagements with both Ezemvelo and the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), there has been no progress in repairs to the fence.
While Ezemvelo last week said it had employed 115 people to monitor the problematic fence line and carry out repairs, affected communities this week took it upon themselves to fix the fence.
Ezemvelo spokesperson Musa Mntambo confirmed this morning’s lion sighting on the P700 but said the animal had moved on by the time game rangers arrived on scene.
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