Cape Town – Police have issued a warning to North West residents after a lion escaped from a transporting container on the road between Stella and Tlagameng on Wednesday.
The lion was being transported on the back of a Ford Ranger Bakkie to a nature reserve, police said.
“The owner only realised that she escaped when he reached his destination at Tlagameng Nature Reservation and farmers are on the lookout for the animal,” police said in a statement.
According to the provincial environment and conservation department, a helicopter has since been deployed to search for the lion, reported EWN.
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“The rescue mission that involved a chopper has since started and the mission will also continue today. Communities around Setlagole, Stella, and Tlakgameng are alerted not attempt to capture the lion,” the report quoted the department’s Jerry Matebetse as saying.
In recent weeks, two tigers were on the loose in separate incidents in Gauteng.
Early last month, a tiger called Sheba escaped from captivity and allegedly attacked animals and a man before she was eventually captured.
Sheba was on the loose for four days, attacking a man and killing several animals before she was euthanised.
Later that same month, another tiger was reported was on the loose around Edenvale, east of Johannesburg but was safely recaptured and taken to a sanctuary for safekeeping, reported News24.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
