Beware of wild animals on loose

There is a lion and an elephant on the loose in Chikwawa and Salima Districts respectively. The animals have been spotted wondering about in public places in the districts.

In Chikwawa, a lion believed to have crossed from Mozambique, on Saturday, killed a cow in Binya Village, T/A Ngabu while in Nkhotakota, on the same day, people in Mwachipapa Village, Senior chief Kanyenda, spotted an elephant within the village’s vicinity.

According to Nkhotakota Police Station spokesperson Williams Kaponda, the elephant is believed to have escaped from Nkhotakota Game Reserve and has since crossed to Thazike Village in Salima—on the border with Nkhotakota District.

He said helicopters are being used in an effort to scare it away and drive it back to the game reserve.

Director of Parks and Wildlife, Brighton Kumchedwa, confirmed the developments saying rangers are on the ground hunting for the animals with an aim to take them back to the park.

“We suspect that the lion in Chikwawa originated from Mozambique since we do not have lions in Lengwe National Park. Currently footprints have been traced close to the park and we plan to drive it in there once traced,” Kumchedwa said.

Describing the lion as a very big one based on the footprints, Kumchedwa urged people in the area to be careful and avoid walking at night.

Chikwawa Police officer-in-charge Davie Chingwalu said the lion has been wondering about in bushes.

He said police are assisting the rangers in hunting for the lion and like Kumchedwa he urged people in the area to be cautious.

Such developments come barely four days after three lions escaped from Kasungu National Park.

Kumchedwa believes the lions in Kasungu have gone back to their base on their own.

So far no human death or injury has been reported in all the four incidences.