Three lions that caught the eye of social media after they escaped from South Africa’s Kruger National Park last week, have been shot dead.
SANParks spokesperson William Mabasa said one of the lions, which escaped on Sunday, was killed by a farmer after the three killed the farmer’s cattle – according to News24.
“Last night the lions killed cattle in one of the farm areas. The owner of the farm shot at the lions and killed one and wounded another,” Mabasa added.
He also said that a search team had been dispatched in the early hours of Thursday morning and that they found the other two lions close to the farm.
“The terrain was difficult and we could not drug them so we were forced to shoot the remaining two lions,” he said.
It is estimated that there are over 1,000 lions in Kruger National Park, and as of recent a number of lions have been escaping.
Government officials are likely to want answers on why so many lions have breached the borders, and what is being done to protect the public.
