LOOK: Four lions escape from Kruger National Park
Four lions are on the loose and have been roaming around villages near the Kruger National Park.
The last thing anyone would want to see in their backyard is four lions wandering about, but that might be the case for some people living close to the Kruger National Park (KNP).
According to Lowvelder, residents in villages near the park are living in fear after reports that four lions have escaped.
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It has been reported that two male lions were first spotted along the tar road between Huntington Village and Elephant Point on Sunday night (April 13).
Reginald Zitha, a local resident, told Lowveld Media that he spotted the lions and managed to grab a photo.
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"I was driving along the road at night when I saw the two lions sitting in the middle of the road. I lit them up with the vehicle's lamps and one of them walked into the bushes. I then took a picture of the one that remained," said Zitha.
Others also reported seeing the lions in Belfast, Somerset, Lillydale, Justicia, and Malamulele villages.
By Wednesday, reports of not only two but four lions in Malamulele village began surfacing.
It is believed the lions escaped from the KNP.
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The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) said they are doing their best to locate the lions.
"The MTPA is aware of the lions that are outside the park. We have been working with our colleagues from KNP to try and locate them. One lion was spotted using our drone this morning. We have therefore requested assistance from KNP with a chopper for aerial support," said MTPA spokesperson Simphiwe Shungube.
"We have a team on the ground working to ensure the lions are found. Unfortunately, it rained while our team was tracking them, which made the search more difficult. But we are committed to working around the clock to ensure the lions are safely located and returned to the park," Shungube added.
"We advise the community to avoid any confrontation with the lions and to report sightings to the authorities," he warned.
Lowvelder also reported that the lions are believed to have killed two cows in Huntington.
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Image: Lowvelder/ Reginald Zitha