Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE Beitbridge Rural District Council (BBRDC) has advised villagers in the eastern part of the district to be on the lookout for two stray lions with collars that have been spotted around the Tshituripasi, Nuli and Mawale areas.
The collared lions are reported to have escaped from Kruger National Park in South Africa, and a joint team of rangers from both countries is tracking them.
BBRDC chief executive officer Mrs Kilibone Mbedzi confirmed the development, adding that one of the lions has been spotted in the Mawale, Dumba and Mapai areas.
She said children should be accompanied to school while authorities make efforts to locate and capture the lions.
“We have received an alert about the lions spotted in Tshituripasi and Mawale areas in Beitbridge, and we advise community members to avoid walking early in the morning or in the evening,” said Mrs Mbedzi.
“We also advise community members to exercise extreme caution while rangers are tracking with a view to capturing the lions. The one approaching Beitbridge town has cubs and is more dangerous.”
She encouraged villagers to notify the BBRDC, local ZimParks officials or local community leaders if they see the lions.
BBRDC council chairperson, Cllr Oscar Chiromo, advised parents with school-going children in areas where the lions have been spotted to consider keeping them at home until the lions have been successfully captured.
Where possible, he said children or people should move during the day in groups, adding that it was critical for people to spread the message about the stray lions to save lives.
He said when people see the lions, they must not provoke or try to capture them, but report the sightings to authorities.
