5 lions escape from Kruger

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Fourth Kruger Park National Park lion recaptured

Mbombela - Authorities have successfully recaptured four of the five lions believed to have escaped from the Kruger National Park on Tuesday.

South African National Park (SANparks) spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said a second chopper was dispatched to reinforce the search operation and this has helped immensely in the capturing of these animals.

Thakhuli could not confirm how close they were to recapturing the fifth big cat, saying it has become dark.

Earlier, Thakhuli said the five adult males were cast out by a large pride of lions.

"This is not uncommon behaviour for these animals. They tend to fight for territory."

He said the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Authority were leading the search operation with SAPS and SANparks.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/fourth-kruger-park-national-park-lion-recaptured-20170509

 

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Crowd swamps rescuers for selfies with escaped lions

Komatipoort – "Wow, it really is wonderful that God made all these animals," said Oupa Ngutshane as he stroked the tranquilised lion.

The lion was the first of four found on Tuesday after they had escaped from the Kruger National Park. The fifth escaped lion is still missing, Netwerk24 reported.

Ngutshane, a sales manager at a beverage company in Komatipoort, had made a special effort to drive to the search area near the town.

"I am glad the lions are being tranquilised and not shot, so that my children and grandchildren can also get a chance to see them."

There were many inquisitive bystanders while helicopters on Tuesday afternoon circled overhead and a lion was shot with a tranquiliser dart.

"Look, he’s just shot," a woman in a pastel-coloured crocheted top exclaimed when the chopper circled just above the crowd.
Later, there were so many bystanders next to the R571 that barriers had to be erected around the bakkie transporting the lion. It didn’t help much. The crowd stormed the bakkie, cellphones held high. One man even took a selfie with the lion before jumping off the bakkie.On the bakkie, SANParks’ head vet Dr Markus Hofmeyr was having a torrid time. "We are trying our best to catch the lions, but it’s difficult."

The huge public interest made it even more difficult.

Search suspended

A member of the search party who wasn’t officially authorised to address the media, said: "Normally we capture escaped animals without much attention. With so many people here, mistakes might be made."

More at: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/crowd-swamps-rescuers-for-selfies-with-escaped-lions-20170510

 

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Escaped Kruger Park lion could be 'anywhere'

Johannesburg - A missing lion which escaped with four others from the Kruger National Park on Monday can be anywhere, SANParks said on Thursday.

This after four of the five missing lions was located and captured around 60km from Mananga near the border with Swaziland.

"The lion is still out there, he could be anywhere. There has been no sighting of him," South African National Parks (SANParks) spokesperson William Mabasa told News24.

"It could be back in the park [Kruger National Park]; nobody has seen it."

Mashaba called on members of the public to assist authorities to locate the lion.

Report any sighting of the lion on 0800 10111, 076 801 9679 or 013 735 0197, he said.

Traveller24 reported that the lions are believed to have left the park after they were forced out by a larger pride of lions.

No injuries have been reported. Police investigations are still underway.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/escaped-kruger-park-lion-could-be-anywhere-20170511

 

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Search for Kruger National Park lion called off

Johannesburg - The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency has on Thursday called off the search for the fifth big cat that escaped from the Kruger National Park on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Kholofelo Nkambule said there has been no sight of the missing lion since its disappearance on Tuesday.

Four of the five missing lions were located and captured around 60km from Mananga near the border with Swaziland.

“We suspect that the lion might have probably gone back to the park. However, we still urge the communities to be alert and inform us if it is spotted anywhere in the area,” Chief Executive Officer of MTPA Johannes Nobunga said.

Nobunga said the terrain in which the search was conducted presented challenges for the team.

“We will continue to work with farm owners and the community in the area for possible sightings that might occur," Nobunga said.

Communities are encouraged to be vigilant and to contact the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency on possible sightings on 083 626 6792 or 082 807 1057.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/search-for-kruger-national-park-lion-called-off-20170511

 

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Escaped lions back at Kruger after casual walk on the wild side

Pretoria - They may have enjoyed their time on the wild side, but for five lions who escaped from the Kruger National Park last week, home is where the heart is.

At a SanParks briefing on Wednesday, officials said that four of the five lions have since returned to the park. While one is still missing, it is believed that the final runaway had most likely also returned to the park.

SanParks acting managing executive of conservation services who is also the head of scientific services, Danie Pienaar said it was not a new phenomenon for animals to escape from the park. However, in the case of the five lions, the animals were far more visible as they were spotted next to the N4.

He said it was obvious that the five male lions all aged between four and five were relatively tame because of the way they reacted to tourists and vehicles.

Pienaar said the lions had also not left the park because they felt threatened or were evicted from their pride. The lions probably managed to escape because they were simply wandering around, he said.

Pienaar said because the lions were not habitual offenders and did not behave like animals who had been away from the park for a while, the decision was taken to move them back to the park after they were captured.

Habitual offenders, who kill livestock or act is if they have been harassed, are put down, Pienaar said.

Because the lions were fairly tame, it was not very difficult for rangers to catch them and escort them back into the park.

As for the fifth missing lion, Pienaar said it was likely he had returned to the park to find his "mates".

“Where they were on the N4 is close to the Komati river, which is a stone's throw from the Kruger fence so he probably just walked back, cause he might have heard his mates roaring on the inside, so in all likelihood he found his way back,” said Pienaar.

SANPark spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said they are still receiving false alarms that people have spotted the fifth lion, but there has still been no positive sighting.

He said when there has been a positive sighting and confirmation from the ranger that the fifth lion’s whereabouts are known, they would send out an update.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...r-after-casual-walk-on-the-wild-side-20170517

 

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Kruger lion escape: Families whose livestock devoured to be compensated

Pretoria – The South African National Parks (SANParks) will be compensating the families whose livestock were devoured by the five lions that escaped from the Kruger National Park recently.

The lions, four of which have since been recovered and returned to the park, escaped from the KNP on the evening of May 8.

Fear and panic struck residents as SANParks representatives previously said it was believed that the five male lions were chased out of the pride by dominant lions.

More at: http://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/...-livestock-devoured-to-be-compensated-9186152