Lioness on Walkabout Safely Returned to Kruger National Park

Thanks to team effort, a lioness on the loose on the N4 in South Africa was safely returned to the Kruger National Park this morning.

Tour guide Mario Paul, from Izwe African Safaris, was on his way to do a game drive from Crocodile Bridge, when he received a call from fellow tour guide David Quihampton that there was a lioness on the N4!

He says: “Yup, there she was on the N4 at the first Marloth Oark turnoff… she was quite frightened and scared which is understandable, as she doesn’t know her surroundings and the big trucks were passing her at high speed.”

Mario contacted authorities at Marloth Park, Mpumalanga Parks Board and SANParks (South African National Parks) to assist, and whilst waiting he stayed with her until “another guy” called Roy arrived on the scene to continue staying with her until the vets arrived. It’s believed that Roy was from the construction company which is currently working on the road.

Mario says that the vets arrived and darted the lion before transporting her back into the Kruger National Park.

“Thank you to all the open safari vehicle guides, rangers, officials, Lize, Sandra, Marius (Lower Sabie Section Ranger) and Roy for your help this morning to get the Lioness safely back to the park,” says Mario.

As can be seen in the video below, the lioness was pacing as if she wanted to get back in the park…

Mario told SAPeople, he thinks she was ‘contact calling’ – calling for another female lion which had been darted yesterday in Marloth Park. “Initially there were two lionesses in Marloth but only one was darted. This I got from a trusted source and I believe she was searching for that female,” he said.

All Photos and Video copyright © Mario Paul and shared here with his kind permission.

Watch Lioness on the Loose Outside Kruger National Park, South Africa

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https://www.facebook.com/mario.paul.3139/videos/pcb.10155849650958139/10155849870383139/