Payout for KNP lions’ kill

South African National Parks (SANParks) is to compensate the owners of livestock killed and eaten by five lions that escaped from the Kruger National Park more than a week ago.

Speaking at SANParks in Pretoria yesterday, head of scientific services Danie Pienaar said the big cats’ behavioural patterns could have led to them leaving the park.

He said they had crossed the Crocodile River and exited the park through the Komati River.

“Trying to keep lions in with fences is difficult as large elephants and hippos break the fences,” he said.

“Other animals such as warthogs dig under the fences.”

However, as lions were territorial animals, sometimes they were forced out by another pride taking over a certain area, Pienaar explained.

“Young males, as they get older, have to find a place for themselves.

“As the lion population spreads out evenly throughout the park, you get those that want to take over a place, evicting others to find a place for themselves.

“That could have also been another cause.”

The animals attacked livestock in the Komatipoort area, but Pienaar said the owners would be compensated.

“There has been confirmation that a cow was killed and a carcass was discovered.

“We have a policy of compensating those owners. Our process for compensating people for losses is a strict one to follow.

“There needs to be a report with photos and proof of ownership of livestock should be verified.”

Four of the five lions were captured and released back into the wild, while the fifth could possibly have walked back into the park.

“They leave a trail of scent and since they were spotted on the side of the N4, which is a stone’s throw away from the Kruger Park, the lion could have made its way back into the park,” said Pienaar.

SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said they had received false alarms from people claiming to have spotted the missing lions.

“We can only verify such alerts as soon as we get confirmation from rangers,” he said.

There has been confirmation that a cow was killed and a carcass was discovered. We have a policy of compensating those owners. Danie Pienaar Head of scientific services at SANParks