19/04/2025
Hita jiwa
NEWS: The last thing anyone would want to see in their backyard is four lions wandering about, but that might be the case for some people living close to the Kruger National Park (KNP).
Residents in villages near the park are living in fear after reports that four lions have escaped.
It has been reported that two male lions were first spotted along the tar road between Huntington Village and Elephant Point on Sunday night (April 13).
Others also reported seeing the lions in Belfast, Somerset, Lillydale, Justicia, and Malamulele villages.
By Wednesday, reports of not only two but four lions in Malamulele village began surfacing.
It is believed the lions escaped from the KNP.
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) said they are doing their best to locate the lions.
"The MTPA is aware of the lions that are outside the park. We have been working with our colleagues from KNP to try and locate them. One lion was spotted using our drone this morning. We have therefore requested assistance from KNP with a chopper for aerial support," said MTPA spokesperson Simphiwe Shungube.
"We advise the community to avoid any confrontation with the lions and to report sightings to the authorities," he warned.
There’s also been reports that the lions are believed to have killed two cows in Huntington.
