Re: Lions On The Loose

[Lisbeth]

Why do they use "destroy" instead of "kill"?

[Richprins]

[Richprins]

The DA has called for an investigation into the killing of a lion in an operation conducted by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in Vryheid last week.

The lion was one of three which were on the loose in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The two other lions are still being sought.

It is not known where the lions escaped from. Ezemvelo had dispatched a team to search for the lions after locals reported the killing of livestock in the area.

The DA has now written to the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) Musa Zondi demanding answers following the killing of the lion.

The party expressed concerns about whether every effort had been made to capture the animal before resorting to lethal measures.


In a statement, the DA said it sought urgent clarity from Edtea MEC, Reverend Zondi, regarding the circumstances surrounding the lion's death in Gluckstadt, Vryheid.

The party said while it acknowledged the concerns of local farmers and communities regarding the safety of their livestock, it said the killing of a lion should always be a measure of absolute last resort.

The DA has also called on Edtea to investigate successful examples of lion relocations and other effective strategies used to resolve human-wildlife conflict.

“There are well-documented cases globally where communities and conservationists have implemented proactive measures to protect both livestock and predators.

“One such example comes from the Predator Compensation Fund in Kenya’s Amboseli region, which has successfully reduced lion killings by compensating farmers for livestock losses, on the condition that no retaliatory action is taken. This initiative has helped increase the local lion population while maintaining peaceful coexistence with communities.

“Similarly, the Lion Guardians programme in Kenya and Tanzania has trained Maasai warriors to monitor lion movements and prevent livestock attacks, thereby reducing the need for lethal control measures. The use of predator-proof bomas in Tanzania has also proven successful, as the construction of fortified livestock enclosures has effectively reduced night-time attacks by predators,” it said.

The party said a sustainable and humane approach is critical in managing human-wildlife conflict, ensuring that conservation efforts are not undermined by reactive and irreversible actions.

The Mercury contacted the office of the Edtea MEC on Tuesday for comment but no response had been received by the time of publication.

THE MERCURY

https://iolnewsletters.co.za/mercury/ne ... BfEae87ZUA

[Lisbeth]

Wasn't something going to be changed at the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

[Richprins]

Four lions spotted near Malamule Village

The lions have been moving from one village to the next since Sunday, April 13
20 hours ago Riot Hlatshwayo



One lion was caught on camera along the road between Huntington and Elephant Point > Reginald Zitha
Several communities adjacent to the Kruger National Park (KNP) are living in fear following reports of four lions that are roaming around several villages.

Initially, two male lions were spotted along the tar road between Huntington Village and Elephant Point on Sunday night (April 13).


A local man, Reginald Zitha, told Lowveld Media that he was one of the people who spotted the lions and even took a photo.


“I was driving along the road at night when I saw the two lions sitting in the middle of the road. I torched them with the vehicle lamps and one of them walked into the bushes. I then took the picture of the remaining one,” said Zitha.

Since then reports about the lions continued to spread with some people mentioning that they spotted them at Belfast, Somerset, Lillydale, Justicia and Malamule villages.

It was only today (Wednesday, April 16) that some people reported having seen four lions at Malamule village at about 07:30

The lions are believed to have come out of the KNP and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) said it was doing everything possible to locate them.

“The MTPA is aware about the lions that are outside the park. We have been working with our colleagues from KNP to try and locate the lions. One lion was spotted using our drone this morning. We therefore requested KNP to assist us with a chopper for aerial support to locate the lions,” said the MTPA spokesperson, Simphiwe Shungube.

“We have a team that is on the ground to ensure that the lions are found. Unfortunately during the day when our team was busy following the tracks, it rained. But we are committed to working around the clock to ensure that we successfully locate the lions and send them back to the park,” added Shungube.

He advised the community to remain vigilant and not to try to catch the lions on their own, but instead report to the authorities if they saw the lions.


“We advise the community to avoid confrontation with the lions. They must report to the authorities,” warned Shungube.

Xibutana Nkuna from Belfast wrote in the local WhatsApp group that he saw lion spoor in his village early today.

The lions are said to have already killed two cows in Huntington.

https://www.citizen.co.za/lowvelder/new ... 5gt4ELckgw

[Richprins]

One of four Kruger Park lions on the loose recaptured
18 April 2025 - 11:21
Shonisani Tshikalange

One of four lions that escaped from the Kruger National Park on Sunday has been recaptured, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) confirmed.



MTPA spokesperson Simphiwe Shungube said the lion is being held at their facilities for proper management.


“The search for the lions is a joint operation with various stakeholders such as SANParks, Sabi Sands and private reserves to ensure the safety of communities in the Bushbuckridge villages of Lilydale, Huntington, Somerset, Ronaldsey and Kildare,” he said.

Shungube said their damage-causing animals team, working with key stakeholders, is still on the ground tracking the other lions that are still at large.

“The public is advised to immediately inform the MTPA should they spot them and not attempt to capture them. We would like to thank the public for their patience during this time and will inform you of any new developments in due course.”

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2025 ... ecaptured/

[Lisbeth]

I wonder what " proper management" means

[Richprins]

They are lucky they are under Mpumalanga, Limpopo would have shot them!

[Lisbeth]