Curiosity did not kill the cats, in case of five Kruger escapees

HOW did the five lions which terrified some residents of Mpumalanga manage to escape from the Kruger National Park?

Quite easily‚ it turns out. Curiosity probably got the better of them and they just left.

SANParks acting managing executive for conservation services‚ Danie Pienaar‚ said yesterday that the lions most likely escaped via the Crocodile and Komati rivers.

He said the lions which escaped had not been evicted by another pride.

“Rangers said the way in which they just lay next to the N4 indicated that they are used to people and cars‚” Pienaar said.

The Kruger National Park is the largest park in the country and is home to 1 800 lions.

Pienaar said the park’s fencing could not be made impermeable and 24 hour surveillance was not possible.

“Fences are broken by large animals. Trying to keep a lion in is difficult because they get through small holes‚” he said.

Pienaar said it was not uncommon for animals to leave the park. Habitual offenders‚ he said‚ were put down.

The recaptured lions were not found to be habitual offenders and were put back in the park.

“The danger the lions pose to the public depends on the situation, but predators don’t go around hunting people,” Pienaar said.

“When they see people during the day they run away.”

He urged the public to notify authorities instead of confronting animals if spotting them outside the boundaries of the park.

“When people try to chase the animal or run away from them it becomes a dangerous situation‚” Pienaar said.

The park has a compensation policy that pays out in the event that an animal from the park causes damage to private property.

The lions reportedly attacked cattle during their outing.

“We have good relations with our neighbouring communities and where they are able to prove damage by an animal we pay out‚” Pienaar said.

About 20 incidents occur every year and R400 000 is paid out.