Re: Lions On The Loose

[Richprins]

[stefan9]

Better not get killed...

[Alf]

Just saw the pride of 14 doing shopping at woolworths

[harrys]

Don't panic' - Limpopo govt says 14 escaped lions have been spotted, will be darted
13:37 07/06/2019 Riaan Grobler
"Don't panic."

That is the message from the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, after around 14 lions escaped from the Kruger National Park in the Phalaborwa area.

Speaking to News24, spokesperson Zaid Kalla said the department had become aware of the escape on Thursday.

"We immediately sent out two teams of rangers to where the lions had been spotted and they managed to find the animals."


The lions are currently contained in the area and arrangements are being made to have them darted and transported back to the park.

"We are still strategising on how we're going to sedate the lions and transport them to the Kruger National Park," Kalla said.

"We need to keep in mind that we are in Limpopo, which is home to 76% of the Kruger National Park, which covers a huge area. Therefore, you will find large wild animals - such as elephants, which use the fence of the Kruger or other wildlife facilities to scratch themselves - often leaving gaps or pushing them down completely.

Rangers monitoring situation

"So what often happens is that animals who have consumed the vegetation in a particular area use these damaged fences to venture outside.

"In the case of the lions, especially considering how territorial they are, they will typically 'escape' through the fence, but they are not aware that they are escaping.

"Our rangers are now monitoring the situation and we are in a position to inform members of the public on the whereabouts of these lions. We are trying to ensure that they remain where they are."

Kalla asked that people driving in that area alert the department should they encounter any wild animals.


"But don't step out of your vehicles," Kalla warned. "As provincial government, the lives of our citizens always comes first. Should we feel that the lives of our citizens are threatened, we will save the lives of our citizens, even if it is at the expense of our wildlife."

According to Kalla, the department and other stakeholders were working on the logistics around sedating and transporting the lions.

"We will ensure that the public is updated on any progress," Kalla said.

In an earlier statement, the department said: "A meeting held between LEDET, The Kruger National Park and Greater Balule concluded that the lions are to be captured and released back at Kruger National Park. Employees at Foskor Mine and members of the public are hereby advised to be alert at all times."

[Penga Ndlovu]

Luckily it is not our pride of 15 as they had 9 cubs of around 6 months old with them.

But anyway.
The area between the mine and Grietjie/ Kruger has always had lions roaming there.
This is not unusual.
Just a normal day in paradise for us residents

[Klipspringer]

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa ... r-25456817

SANParks says roaming pride of lions did not escape from Kruger
SOUTH AFRICA / 7 JUNE 2019, 3:02PM / STAFF REPORTER


A pride of lions is seen at a game reserve adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga province. File photo
Cape Town - South African National Parks said on Friday that the widely reported pride of lions seen recently in the mining area outside Phalaborwa, were not a pride from the Kruger National Park or the adjacent private nature reserves.

It has been reported that this pride has been residing for more than a year within the Foskor, Phalaborwa Mining Company and adjacent areas, moving along the Selati river system.


This area outside but adjacent to the KNP, also contains elephant, buffalo and other wildlife.

The pride might have established in this area, due to the current availability of prey in these areas, and due to a lack of competition from other lion prides. The lion population within the Greater Kruger is very healthy, growing, and the suitable habitats occupied, SANParks said.

SANParks said that it would therefore be unwise to relocate a lion pride in the territory of an existing pride. It should also be noted that the disease status of animals is also a consideration when looking at possible release areas.

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Sounds about right!

[harrys]

SanParks says it doesn't own the 14 lions spotted outside Phalaborwa
42 minutes ago Ntwaagae Seleka
The South African National Parks (SANParks) has stated that a pride of 14 lions reportedly spotted near a mining area outside Phalaborwa does not belong to the Kruger National Park.

SANParks spokesperson Isaac Phaahla said that the widely reported pride of lions seen recently was not a known pride from Kruger or the adjacent private nature reserves.


"It has been reported that this pride has been residing for more than a year within the Foskor, Phalaborwa Mining Company and direct adjacent areas, moving along the Selati River system. This area is outside, but adjacent to Kruger and also contains elephant, buffalo and other wildlife.

"The pride may have established itself in this area due to the current availability of prey and a lack of competition from other prides. The lion population within Greater Kruger is very healthy, growing, and the suitable habitats occupied.


"It would therefore be unwise to relocate a lion pride in the territory of an existing pride. The disease status of animals is also a consideration when looking at possible release areas," he said.

Kruger’s general manager of conservation, Dr Marisa Coetzee, said in a meeting between various parties that it was agreed that a capture operation, which will be coordinated by Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), would be carried out as per the approved protocols.

LEDET is the responsible authority on this matter.

"The plan is to capture the pride and move them to a suitable area outside of Kruger and private reserves, where they will be closely monitored by LEDET," said Coetzee.

News24 earlier reported that LEDET had urged people in the area not to panic.

Spokesperson Zaid Kalla said it had dispatched two teams of rangers to the area where the lions were spotted, and they have found the carnivores.

"The lions are currently contained in the area and arrangements are being made to have them darted and transported back to the park.

"We are still strategising on how we're going to sedate the lions and transport them to the Kruger National Park," Kalla said.

[RogerFraser]

Saw the locals appealing on Facebook to people not to promote this story but downplay it as it is the known pride in the area and if there is an outcry then someone will be forced to take action with a bad outcome . Lets hope they remain safe