Panic as stray lion inches closer to Bulawayo city centre

Source: Panic as stray lion inches closer to Bulawayo city centre (Bulawayo News24, 09-05-14)

Panic waves continue to spread through Bulawayo as the elusive stray lion has been sighted at Riverside, inching closer to the city centre.

Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abedinico Ncube yesterday confirmed the latest sighting and urged members of the public to immediately report encounters with the big cat.

First seen 14 days ago about 30 km from Bulawayo near Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage, terrified Waterford residents also sighted it last Sunday.

The king of the jungle has been evading a crack team of Zimbabwe National Parks game rangers.

"We want to reiterate that there is a stray lion out there which was last seen at Riverside South Plot 18. Members of the public must report immediately if they sight the animal. Police are available 24 hours a day so members of the public must be free to come to us or call us," said Asst Insp Ncube.

The police call comes after the tracking team revealed that they had received numerous panic calls from members of the public that had turned out to be false alarms.

A member of the tracking team who could not be named as he is not cleared to speak to the press said the operation to capture the lion was continuing.

"We continue with the search and tonight (last night) we will concentrate in the Waterford area," he said.

He said they mainly do their tracking at night and would be searching areas south of Waterford adding that they suspect that it was a young lioness that probably was caged and still learning how to hunt.

Waterford residents where the lion has been sighted are in a state of panic and urged authorities to capture the lion as soon as possible.

Waterford resident Bongelani Sibanda said he heard the lion roar on Wednesday night.

"We live in fear and do not move at night. Just imagine hearing the lion roar and not knowing if the animal is moving towards you or not," said Sibanda.

Source: Panic as stray lion inches closer to Bulawayo city centre (Bulawayo News24, 09-05-14)