A YOUNG male lion has been on the loose in White River, Mpumalanga, for the past week and is believed to be responsible for killing a cow on a nearby farm. The lion may have escaped from the Kruger National Park, north of the Mthethomusha Game Reserve, said Mpumalanga Parks Board spokesman Gary Sutter on Thursday. “It was seen [on Saturday] crossing the White River/Hazyview road near the Pine Lake Inn turn-off,” he said. “Residents near the Winkler Hotel say they heard a lion.” Since then, there has been a siting every night on roads around the town. On Wednesday at 11pm it was spotted crossing the White River/Sabie road. He said the animal was most likely living off small game in the plantations. Sutter urged anyone who spotted the lion to immediately call district ranger Louw Steyn on 083-626-6792. He said if the lion was caught in an open area, rather than in a plantation, the chances were good that it could be darted and returned to the Kruger National Park. – African Eye News Service