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NATIONAL NEWS AND VIDEO - A lion that leapt from the roof of a moving transport trailer in the North West yesterday has sparked serious concern among animal welfare organisations.
The adult male lion, which had been sedated and was being transported from the Free State – where it had been purchased – to a game farm in Nietverdiend in the Ramotshere Moiloa region of the North West, was filmed standing on top of the moving vehicle moments before jumping to the ground.
Although the animal was later safely recaptured by a team including Dr Anton Nel of the Lichtenburg Animal Hospital and appeared to have only minor injuries, experts say the incident exposes deeper issues surrounding the commercial trade and transport of predators in South Africa.
Fiona Miles, the director at Four Paws in South Africa, confirmed that the organisation is aware of the incident.
“We welcome government’s swift decision to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this case and the compliance with wildlife transport regulations,” she says.
Miles says transporting apex predators like lions requires strict adherence to legal and welfare standards to ensure public safety and animal well-being.
“Incidents like this highlight the urgent need for stronger enforcement and oversight.
“Four Paws stands ready to support authorities with expertise and sanctuary space for animals in need. Together, we can prevent such risks and work towards a future where wild animals are treated with the respect they deserve,” she adds.
Miles says that while the lion did not seem visibly injured, the situation raises serious concerns about the ease with which wild animals are being procured, the safety and welfare of wild animals during transport, and the adequacy of containment measures.
“In South Africa, the transport of wild animals, including lions, is regulated under several laws to ensure animal welfare and public safety,” says Miles.
These include:
- Animals Protection Act (Act 71 of 1962): Prohibits transportation under conditions that cause suffering
- Animal Health Act (Act 7 of 2002): Requires compliance with disease control provisions and transit permits
- National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act: Governs, among others, the keeping and transport of listed species like lions, as well as the issuance of permits and permitting conditions for activities involving listed species.
“Failure to comply can result in legal penalties, seizure of animals and criminal charges,” Miles confirms.
“This incident highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of existing laws and improved regulation of wildlife transport in South Africa. Transporting apex predators in unsecured or inappropriate conditions poses significant risks to animal welfare and public safety.”
Four Paws advocates for:
- An end to captive big cat keeping and breeding
- Effective inspections and enforcement
- A national phase-out of the commercial captive lion industry.
“We call on all stakeholders to prioritise animal welfare and public safety in every aspect of wildlife management,” says Miles.
Jacques Peacock, the manager of the communications unit at the National Council of SPCAs, says the matter has been referred to the NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit, and the footage has been verified as ‘genuine’.
“The NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit has identified the owner of the lion.
“The translocation of a lion requires valid export, import and transport permits issued by the relevant provincial conservation authorities prior to movement. The NSPCA is verifying whether such permits were in place at the time of the incident,” says Peacock.
The escape and capture
Earlier today, Caxton Network News reported that Nel said the trailer’s walls were smooth and about 2.5m high. Yet, the lion managed to get through an observation hatch in the roof and somehow manoeuvred its large body through the small opening. Nel called its escape ‘extraordinary’.
Nel was on a call-out at a farm when he was called to assist after the lion escaped on the road between Lichtenburg and Zeerust.
He said he arrived at around 15:00, about an hour after the videos that are circulating on social media were taken.
“Fortunately, the area is not built-up and there was little traffic,” he said. The lion was found lying in the grass under a tree, and still had some of the sedation it received earlier in its system.
“It was mellow,” said Nel.
After the lion was darted, it walked a short distance away before the drugs took effect. “It lay down, went to sleep and was loaded without incident.”
Caxton Network News does not know who took the videos that were shared on social media yesterday.
Watch: Lion jumps off truck
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