As reported previously, three lions were spotted in the Gluckstad area on January 18. One of the lions has since been killed.
The initial sighting sparked Ezemvelo KZN authorities – together with professional hunters, professional hunting dogs and private organizations – to search for the escaped lions. The lions were terrorizing and hunting the local community’s livestock.
On February 3, the dogs picked up on the scent when two of the lions suddenly appeared at a distance from where the team was stationed. The dogs and hunters were in pursuit when the third lion appeared nearby. The dogs shifted their focus to the third lion, allowing the hunters to kill it. The other two disappeared into nearby bushes. The team decided to stop the search until the next sighting of the remaining two lions.
Ezemvelo CEO Mr Sihle Mkhize is grateful for the assistance they receive from various non-governmental organisations in helping with the search. Mkhize also conveyed his sadness to the community members who lost their livestock to the lions.
“I know their spirits are crushed as their livelihood depends on their livestock. We empathise with them. The process of assessing the extent of their losses will begin shortly. I appeal to the community to co-operate with our conservation officers once the process begins. In the meantime, I urge them to continue bringing their livestock home in the evenings to prevent further losses.”
Ezemvelo further appeals to the local community to continue co-operating, as they have been doing. Immediately inform local traditional leadership, police or Ezemvelo District Conservation Officer Lucky Zulu on 082 945 4255 if you spot the escaped lions.

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.