Staff Reporter.
A lioness escaped on Wednesday as it was being transported from one game farm to another on the Beesdam road between Stella and Tlakgameng, North West.
The lion was being transported on the back of a bakkie from the Leeubosch game farm.
Animal control specialist, Nanti Strydom: “Community members are warned that a lioness escaped. The owner only realised that she escaped when he reached his destination at Tlakgameng. If anybody has any information or has seen anything, please contact nature conservation of your local police station if you see the lioness.”
The provincial environment and conservation department said the owner of the lionness discovered her container was empty when arriving at the game farm.
A helicopter has since been deployed to look for the lion.
“The rescue mission that involved a chopper has since started and the mission will also continue today. Communities around Setlagole, Stella, and Tlakgameng are alerted not attempt to capture the lion,” the department’s Jerry Matebetse said.
In January a female tiger, Sheba, escaped from her enclosure at Walkers Fruit Farm in the south of Johannesburg. After a search, she was spotted and euthanised.