The vet involved in capturing the lion that escaped from a moving trailer near Bakerville in the North West yesterday said its escape was ‘extraordinary’.

Speaking to Caxton Network News, Dr Anton Nel of the Lichtenburg Animal Hospital said the trailer’s walls were smooth and about 2.5m high. Yet, the lion managed to get through an observation hatch in the roof and somehow manoeuvred his large body through the small opening.

Nel was on a call-out at a farm when he received the call to assist with a lion escape on the road between Lichtenburg and Zeerust. The animal was en route from the Free State, where it had been purchased, to a game farm in Nietverdiend in the Ramotshere Moiloa region of the North West.

He said he arrived at around 15:00, about an hour after the videos that are circulating on social media were taken.

“Fortunately, the area is not built-up and there was little traffic,” he said. The lion was found lying in the grass under a tree, and still had some of the sedation it received earlier in its system.

“It was mellow,” said Nel.

After the lion was darted, it walked a short distance away before the drugs took effect. “It lay down, went to sleep and was loaded without incident.

“When we loaded it onto a stretcher to transport it back to the trailer, I had an opportunity to examine it,” said Nel.

He explained that apart from a ripped nail and other minor problems, the lion was in good shape, with no apparent fractures. “They are tough animals, used to taking on buffalo.”

Nel said he only learnt about the nature of the lion’s fall later, when he was back in the office and saw the videos that had been shared on social media by Izak du Plessis of Nuuspod.  

“When I arrived, the parks board and police were on the scene – roads were safeguarded and people warned.”

He said the positive outcome was largely due to how well the incident was managed. Nel also said that the trailer was sturdy and suitable for its job.

Although he routinely works with wildlife and said escapes do periodically occur, this was the first time Nel was involved in capturing a lion.

Investigation underway

In a media statement, the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism confirmed the lion had been successfully captured.

“The department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest there may be an infringement on the conditions of the transport permit,” said media spokesperson Jeremiah Matebesi.

The investigation will assess whether the owner complied with all relevant legislation, including those indicated in South African National Standards (SANS) 1884-3, which govern the transportation, handling and welfare of carnivores.

“This entails compliance with specific legal and safety specifications for cage and vehicle design, animal handling and general welfare as outlined in the national guidelines,” said Matebesi.

He said the department will verify compliance with Condition 5 of the permit, which requires the holder to have public liability insurance and be accountable for any damages caused by escaped animals.

“Severe action will be taken against the permit holder if found to have violated the permit conditions.

“Game farmers and wildlife transporters are strongly urged to apply for all relevant permits for the transportation of wildlife and to adhere strictly to permit conditions and safety protocols during transit, as required by law. Adherence to these safety measures is crucial for secure transportation and mitigating risk to the community,” he said.

Owner has little to say

Yesterday, when Caxton Network News spoke to Pat Loots, the man believed to be the owner of the lion, he said he failed to see why it was newsworthy. He suggested the videos could be fake and said that the people who took the video footage should be contacted for information. All he would confirm was that his lion was safe in a cage on his property.

This morning, he was again contacted and asked if he would like to comment. “The lion is 100% safe,” was his only response.

Caxton Network News has reached out to Four Paws in South Africa for comment, which will be shared in a follow-up article.

Caxton Network News does not know who took the videos that were shared on social media yesterday.

Watch: Lion jumps off truck

Warning: Strong language may upset sensitive viewers

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