By Rex Mphisa
THE lions lurking around Beitbridge town were traced to the town’s sewer ponds in what appears their search for a crossing point to South Africa, the Ziyah News Network can exclusively reveal.
In an interview Sunday morning Beitbridge Rural District Council chairman Oscar Chiromo said tracks of the big cats had been seen at the ponds just two kilometres from the central business district.
“We suspect the lions are trying to cross the flooded Limpopo (river) back to South Africa hence their movement upstream. Yesterday they moved a total of 13 kilometres. We have however noticed a pattern they keep within the proximity of the river, and even going there regularly in perhaps attempts to cross,” said Chiromo.
“From the satelite images sent to us we see their movements to and from the river and they even got to the town sewer ponds,” he said.
Unlike earlier beliefs the big cats strayed from Gonarezhou, it has since been established they were from Kruger National Park in South Africa, hence the lions instinctive attemots to “go back home”.
The lions are believed to be a pack with particular interest on a female with cubs which is more dangerous.
“These lions have collars with trackers which is why they are easy to monitor. That is being done in SA. Officials in SA are in constant touch with ours,” Chiromo said.
The immediate plan, he said, is to locate their exact position and possibly sedate them for capture and subsequent repatriation.
Satelight images seen by Ziyah News Network show the big cats at one time were resting at the south eastern side of Mawale Hills close to the Government Staff Village east of Beitbridge Aerodrome.
Later they moved towards the river doing just six kilometres before hiding to rest and relax.
It is on Saturday night they moved to the Municipality of Beitbridge Sewer Ponds.
Chiromo said help is being sought for a drone to assist monitoring them to protect humans from the predators.
On Friday Beitbridge Rural District Council appealed to villagers and residents of Beitbridge to be cautious and move in groups.
BBRDC also appealed that elderly people escort children to school and advised people not to move at night and early morning, known hunting times for lions.
“As of now we are trying to bet assistance from the Bubye Valley Conservancy to help us dart the lions once spotted,” said Chiromo.