No proof of lions lurking in Nembe
EZEMVELO KZN Wildlife has confirmed that there were no lions from its Hluhluwe imfolozi Park lurking in the Nembe area.
According to Musa Mntambo, Ezemvelo’s communications manager, the wild animals allegedly spotted by three different families in the Nembe area, in northern KZN, could have been hyenas or leopards, but not lions.
Mntambo said rangers inspected the area and could not find any proof of the lions in the area.
“As of Monday we received reports of two dead animals – one goat and one cow – in the Nembe area. On Tuesday we went and inspected the area where the goat was and realised that the goat had been brought to that scene and did not die there. There was nothing that indicated that there was a fight between any animal and the goat.
“While we were there we were then informed of a cow (which was killed) in the Nembe area. Our colleagues from Eshowe went there and could not find any sign of a lion being there. However, because they don’t always deal with lions, we had people from Hluhluwe imfolozi Park go there and check on Wednesday.
“They checked and confirmed that there was no lion there. We cannot confirm if there are lions there or not.
“We can’t search for lions because there is nothing that suggests there are lions in the area. If there was spoor of a lion or dung then we could have started there, but there is nothing. We can’t put resources where there is nothing,” said Mntambo.
He said if lions were in the area, there would be sufficient proof along the way.
“The nearest game reserve is Hluhluwe imfolozi Park. Most lions have collars. If there were lions that escaped from the park and walked to Nembe, on their way there they would have killed livestock. They would have been seen by other communities before reaching Nembe.
“Our conclusion is that there are no lions from Hluhluwe imfolozi Park that escaped and went to Nembe,” said Mntambo.
“If community members see lions they can contact their nearest police station, but if they have our numbers they can contact us,” Mntambo added.