Hyenas still on the loose in KZN

12 April 2012 - 10:29 By Sapa
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Feeding hyena. File photo.
Feeding hyena. File photo.
Image: Reuben Goldberg

Two hyenas on the loose near Ulundi have still not been found, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife said on Thursday.

"We set traps for them last night [Wednesday] but they did not come," said spokesman Musa Mntambo.

"The traps have been left there with bait."

The animals are believed to be roaming the area between the Ophapha Game Reserve and the Intibane lodge.

Rangers realised they were on the loose after a couple reported seeing a lion.

They went to view the tracks and found they were not those of a lion, but of a hyena.

"Lion and hyena tracks are almost the same, it's just that the lion's are a bit bigger," Mntambo said at the time..

He said the hyenas were sighted at 2am on Wednesday when a trap was set for the 'lion'.

"They [the two hyenas] attempted to eat the bait [but] unfortunately disappeared through the bushes when they realised that they were being lured."

The hyenas had not been seen since.

"But the community does not have to worry, hyenas won't attack people because they are shy and cowardly animals," said Mntambo.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now