Eugene Troskie of Phalaborwa Natural Heritage Foundation (PNHF), has a few tips on how to protect yourself from a possibly dangerous situation. First thing is to call and alert the authorities such as LEDET, the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment, and Tourism. Secondly, keep an eye on the animal without being too close to it.

Thirdly, don’t try to catch or kill it, because you might put your life in danger or you can drive it to someone else’s yard or to a group of people putting more lives in danger. Lastly, motorists need to adhere to authorities’ instructions on the road as they have better knowledge of handling the situation, or take a detour to avoid the area.

Also read:  The young lion which escaped at a reserve in Phalaborwa captured

Troskie’s advice comes after the Wednesday, February 3 incident where a young lion was captured on the R71 after escaping from Abelana Game Reserve. “The situation was quite hazardous due to speeding motorists ignoring attempts by authorities on the scene to slow them down. “This threatened the lives of the people and even that of the lion.

“The animal was eventually successfully darted, immobilised, checked for injuries, and taken back to the reserve,” he said. It is believed that the lion escaped after finding an opening under the fence of the game reserve which was possibly caused by water erosion. “The male was recently in conflict with two older males that entered the reserve from a neighbouring property.

This caused him to try and move away from the area,” Troskie added. CEO of Abelana Game Reserve, Ian Beauchamp, told the Herald that the four-and-half-year-old lion is safe and sound and the two other lions have been back to their property