Cape Town – Authorities have launched an extensive search to find a lion currently on the loose after it was spotted around the Hennops area in Gauteng.
According to Arthur Crewe from the Strategic Response and Rescue Unit, the lion remains on the loose and there is so far no confirmation from where it escaped, IOL reported.
“What happened is that at 2 o’clock yesterday morning, a security officer that was patrolling the area had spotted the lion on the 511 in the Hennops area. He (security officer) posted on the local group for everybody to be cautious,” Crewe said.
Crewe said that he dispatched the search and rescue team on Wednesday morning to try and locate the lion.
“We had not known where she has come from. People in the area would really be keen on shooting the animal, so we dispatched our search and rescue teams.”
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Another gentleman spotted the feline around the same area that the security officer had and that’s when Crewe decided to do a focused search on the area to try and capture the lion
“At around 2.30pm yesterday, we received another sighting in the same area, and that is where most of our attention has been focused, and we believe she is still in that area at the moment,” said Crewe.
There are a number of facilities with animal permits and Crewe said that the search is on to find the missing lion, with authrorities visiting the different facilities.
“We actively look for the animal and ask residents not to shoot or approach it if they spot it,” The South African reported Crewe saying.
If you spot the lion on the loose, contact Arthur Crewe at SRU at 083 703 7399.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
