News

Rangers and specialised trackers from Karoo National Park, outside Beaufort West in the Western Cape, are still searching for the lion which is believed to have escaped from the Park on Friday, 15 February 2019.

The nine-man team has been on the ground in the area around the farm Highlands, where the animal was last spotted and on top of the Nuweveld mountain range, again since first light this morning. By midday they reported to still not have found any spoor or had sightings of the lion. The team comprises of four trackers and four rangers, led by Karoo National Park’s Senior Section Ranger. They will remain in the area where they suspect the lion to be until nightfall, making full use of the daylight hours available to them.

Park Manager, Nico van der Walt says from the momentary sighting rangers had of the animal last week, they believe the animal to be a two-and-a-half year old male. It’s believed he managed to escape underneath the Park’s electrified fencing after heavy rain in the area washed away sediment along the boundary, and before rangers could get to all the areas to attend to these holes in the ground.

Property owners towards the north-east of the Park, around Highlands are again requested to be on the lookout for anything which could lead to the safe recapture of the lion and to report it immediately. Sightings or evidence of lion spoor should be reported to the police or the public can call the Park on 023 415 2828 or van der Walt directly on 082 801 2109.

Issued By

South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications

Media Enquiries

Fayroush Ludick
SANParks, Frontier Region Communications Manager
Tel: (012) 426 5371, Cell: 082 888 0201
Email: [email protected]

Reynold “Rey T” Thakhuli
SANParks, GM: Media, PR & Stakeholder Relations
Tel: 012 426 5170, Cell: 073 373 4999
Email: [email protected]