There’s no lion: Zimparks

By The Standard and Newsday | May. 22, 2014

AFTER more than four weeks of a search that has yielded nothing Zimparks has announced the end of its hunt for the elusive mysterious lion

AFTER more than four weeks of a search that has yielded nothing, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) has announced the end of its hunt for the elusive mysterious lion that was reportedly spotted in the eastern suburbs of Bulawayo at the end of April. JUNIOR MOYO OWN CORRESPONDENT

The lion was first reportedly spotted close to the Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage, which hastily dismissed suspicions that the adult cat could have escaped from their dens saying their beasts were accounted for. As news of the mystery lion spread, members of the public reported sighting the cat in Burnside, Waterford, Douglasdale, Riverside and Hope Fountain with some even providing pictures of lion spoor as evidence of its presence.

However, a crack team of Zimparks rangers accompanied by a professional hunter searched the mentioned neighbourhoods without success. The organisation apparently ended the hunt by informing Bulawayo residents, particularly those from where the cat was reportedly sighted, that it was winding its 24-hour search for the mysterious lion.

In a brief statement yesterday, Zimparks public relations manager Caroline Washaya-Moyo pronounced that their search for the mysterious lion had come to an end.

“Members of the public are informed that they should carry out their duties without fear. This is after a careful assessment and evaluation of our search effort, interviews with the public and the expected behaviour of the beast. The authority firmly believes that the animal is no longer in the vicinity of the suburbs and could have tracked back to its original home,” said Washaya-Moyo.

“The following characteristics are synonymous with a lion which surprisingly did not happen. A lion is expected to kill for food or perfect its art of killing . . . Livestock will be agitated if a lion is in the area. It is not normal for a lion to go for more than four weeks without roaring.

“We will continue to accept and react to any information provided to our office,” Washaya-Moyo said.

The failure to locate the lion led to the International Traditional Healers’ Association representative in Zimbabwe David Muhabhinyane Ngwenya (pictured) warning that the cat could have been a “spirit”.