A YOUNG male lion that escaped from the Kruger National Park two weeks ago is still on the prowl in forests surrounding the small holiday town of White River in Mpumalanga. Mpumalanga Parks Board spokesman Gary Sutter said on Monday the renegade lion had dodged baited traps and ranger patrols but was believed to still be in the area. The lion is believed to have killed a cow on a nearby farm, and sparked a flurry of reported sightings by local residents since July 21. Sutter said rangers believed the lion came from the southern Kruger National Park, where lions are experiencing territorial pressures due to growing predator numbers. The MPB hopes to dart or capture the lion alive, but may be forced to destroy it if it tests positive for the highly contagious Bovine Tuberculosis. Sutter warned that the lion was dangerous and appealed for anyone who spotted it to immediately alert district ranger Louw Steyn on 083 626 6792. – African Eye News Service