Search continues for escaped young lioness
SHEBA, the 13-month-old 60kg female lion cub now on the loose in bush near East London has been spotted – but not yet recaptured.
The lioness escaped from her 2.7m-high enclosure and double 11 000-volt electric fence at Mpongo Private Games Reserve near the N6 outside East London on Wednesday night.
The four-star private game reserve reported yesterday that the cub was hiding in thick vegetation “on the property”, making it difficult to return her safely to her enclosure.
In an official statement to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, the game reserve’s spokeswoman Kirsten Smith said: “It is very risky to walk through the thicket.
“We have placed bait in the open surrounds and are waiting until the cub feels secure enough to emerge.
“From there, we will be using a dart gun to tranquillise her and return her to her brothers and sisters in the enclosure.”
Smith emphasised that the lioness escaped from its enclosure and was still in the reserve, which was surrounded by a “standard regulation electrified game reserve fence”.
However, villagers living in settlements near the reserve fear that the young lioness might be a danger to them and their children.
Smith said: “She has not escaped from Mpongo Private Game Reserve and is being monitored by the reserve’s 24hour anti-poaching unit on the property.
“As per protocol, Mpongo Private Game Reserve is working closely with a veterinarian with more than 25 years’ experience with wildlife in the area.”
Smith said Mpongo management and the vet were on standby awaiting to be alerted the moment Sheba emerged from the bush.
“The public will be informed as soon as she is safely returned to her enclosure,” she said.
Graeme Stanton, owner of Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve nearby, who also breeds lions, said: “The lioness is very scared at the moment and will try to get back to its pride.”
She would not stray far from where she escaped.
Stanton said a lion that was used to being in captivity would avoid people out of fear, but was still capable of killing people.
Due to her age, she would also be likely to hunt small prey such as rabbits and rats.
Stanton said lions fed every seven to 10 days. This morning, Sheba enters her third day of not being fed.
“A lion will kill and eat its fill and allow all that food to get through the system,” he said. “They don’t eat every day.”
Mpongo reserve is home to six lionesses, two male lions and five cubs.
The adults were rescued from potentially threatening locations and situations and were housed in five lion camps, all of which were electrified as per regulations, said Smith. — malibongwed@ dispatch.co.za