Pride of 14 lions on the loose after escaping Kruger National Park – days after leopard mauls boy, 2, to death
FOURTEEN man-eating lions have escaped from South Africa's biggest game reserve — just two days after a toddler was mauled to death by a leopard there.
The pride of lions and lionesses and cubs managed to break out of the famous Kruger National Park and have been spotted roaming free five miles outside the perimeter fence.
It comes just days after a leopard killed Courtney Ntimane, 2, inside the national park after leaping into a secure compound and mauling him just yards away from his father Isaiah, 35.
Dozens of rangers have been urgently activated and helicopters are being brought in along with a team of vets with rifles with tranquilliser darts to knock out the predators for recapture.
The lions that escaped near Phalaborwa Gate are causing panic to the west of the 8000 square mile KNP which is home to 1600 lions and residents are being urged to be on high alert.
It is believed that the pride may be prowling near the mine near the town of Phalaborwa Foskor.
A male lion can grow up to 30 stone in weight and run at up to 50mph, easily outrunning and pinning down a fleeing human.
An investigation is underway into exactly how they escaped but they are known to slip through gaps cut in fences by poachers or under fences when earth is washed away by floods.
The Limpopo Provincial Government spokesman said: "We have allocated field rangers to closely monitor the pride's movement prior to action to be taken and we are working closely with those at the Kruger National Park.
“The plan is that the lions are to be captured and released back into the Kruger National Park.
“Employees at the Foskor Mine and members of the public are hereby advised to be alert at all times until such time as they are safely sedated and returned to where they came from.”
It has been reported that Field rangers from the KNP and veterinarians from the Limpopo Environmental Affairs department have begun tracking the lions in the Phalaborwa area.
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They escape from the Kruger several times a year and in July 2017 three were shot dead by a farmer and rangers after attacking and eating cows to feed themselves whilst loose.
Two months before five lions escaped and four were recaptured, although one remained unaccounted for.
The most famous escapee is Sylvester the lion who famously broke out twice in 2015 and 2016 roaming hundreds of miles feasting on sheep before he was recaptured both times.
He was relocated to the Addo National Park where he now has his own pride after a huge public outcry not to put him down.
Local resident Ronica Jansen posted a picture of a pride of Lions that she took roaming outside the Kruger National Park in February that crossed the main road from Shona Langa gate.
She said: “It has been happening for a while now that the lions have been in and out of this area on the loose and I think people don’t hear much about it as it is not always officially reported.”
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