MAKUYA - Fear looms on the faces of the Makuya residents since ten lions reportedly escaped from the Makuya Park last Wednesday.

According to the report from the Makuya Park, it is suspected that the lions escaped through a river gully, as the fence is still intact.

Rangers have already been deployed to trace the lions, and they have already shot and killed three lions. The Makuya Park's Management said that it is not easy to chase the lions back to the park and the only solution is to kill them.

The Environmental Officer in the Vhembe District, Mr M Mashele, said that nobody knows the exact number of the lions that have escaped, because they escape every year. He said nobody can get close enough to the lions in the camp to count them and that is the reason they do not know the exact number of the lions outside the park.

Thovhele Kennedy Midiyavhathu Tshivhase said another worrying factor is the large number of livestock in the area near Makuya Park.

It was reported that rangers saw three lions near Tshikondeni Mine on Monday, but they all disappeared into the bush.

The spokesperson for the Kruger National Park, Mr Raymond Travens, said the animals are dangerous and members of the communities should not try to capture them, but report their location to the environmental officers.

Makuya Park is situated at Ha-Makuya Village and villages that should be aware of the situation are Khavhambe, Domboni, Musunda, Sanari, Mukoma wa bani, Mutele and Nkutswi.

At the time of going to press, two cattle had been killed and a donkey seriously injured, after being attacked by the lions.