THE lion which escaped from Karoo National Park nearly four weeks ago has been found in a fit and healthy condition.
THE lion which escaped from Karoo National Park nearly a month ago and found roaming the wilderness was fit and healthy, park manager Nico van der Walt said yesterday.
Following an intensive search for the young lion, it was darted on Wednesday in the Northern Cape town of Sutherland, about 120km from the park.
“He is in excellent condition. He looks very healthy and is currently in transit back to the Karoo National Park,” Van der Walt said.
He added that the search for the lion had been a most taxing experience for the team involved in the recapture operation.
“But their dedication day and night, sleeping out in the veld, sometimes in the rain and wind, is to be commended,” he said.
SANParks chief executive Fundisile Mketeni also thanked the rangers.
“On behalf of all SANParks staff, I wish to extend our gratitude for their hard work and efforts put into the recapture of this animal,” Mketeni said.
According to Van der Walt, the trackers picked up a new spoor on Wednesday afternoon and followed it until the lion stormed out of the bush.
“A SANParks helicopter was dispatched and the animal was successfully darted in the mountains at approximately 6pm,” Van der Walt said.
The sedated lion was then taken to the Sutherland police station, where it spent the night behind bars. Van der Walt said quick decision-making was required after administering the dart, as it was getting dark.
“Thankfully, Sutherland SAPS provided a holding cell for the lion until the arrival of a crate from Addo Elephant National Park this morning,” he said.
A SANParks helicopter was dispatched and the animal was darted in the mountains at 6pm
Nico van der Walt
Karoo National Park manager