Video: Radio-controlled car vs lioness in Kruger National Park
A radio-controlled car was recently aggressively steered towards a lioness in the Kruger National Park but even though other vehicles stopped nobody reported the incident to the Emergency Radio Room.
SKUKUZA – Earlier this week when a visitor to the Kruger National Park (KNP) saw a serious and shocking violation he was so outraged that he took out his video camera and filmed the scene before him. A radio-controlled car had been put on the road by a visitor and driven aggressively towards an approaching lioness.
She was very wary of the intrusive and aggressive way in which the car was steered towards her while another lion next to the road completely ignored the disturbance.
Video
“This is a serious violation of the rules of the Kruger and against the spirit and nature of all the rules in the park,” said Mr William Mabasa, spokesman for the KNP.
Six vehicles stopped to view the reaction of the lioness as well, but the emergency radio room at the KNP confirmed that the incident had not been reported.
Mabasa warned that is dangerous to provoke any animal in the park in a manner such as this.
“The animals get scared and stressed, but they are also curious and might want to inspect the object, eat it and then perhaps choke on it and die. They might also run away and that is unfair to the other visitors who are viewing the animals,” Mabasa said.
He also confirmed that in incidences similar to this violation in the past animals like lions have been known to want to protect and defend themselves and the result did not turn out well for the transgressors or their vehicles.
He stressed that anyone who witnesses any suspicious-looking activity or violations to the rules should report the offender to the KNP’s emergency call centre on 076-801-9679 so that the closest law enforcer can be alerted.
The rules and regulations of the KNP are applicable to all visitors. These rules are stipulated on an information sheet that every person receives. Fines for disobeying rules like those governing disturbing or provoking animals, can range between R500 and R10 000. A life ban from the KNP can also be slapped on the guilty party. Driving a radio-controlled car would fall under the same rule as putting a drone in the air in the Park. This is also strictly forbidden.
Also see:
• Idiot taking a selfie with elephant in Kruger National Park
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