The search for the lion that escaped from the Karoo National Park three weeks ago suffered a major blow yesterday when a group of Botswana trackers returned home and weather conditions worsened. SANParks spokesperson Fayroush Ludick said the lion was last spotted on Wednesday, 20km from Fraserburg, heading east, back to the park."[Yesterday] was the last day the tracking team from Botswana were on the search," she said.The team included two trackers and six dogs. Their departure leaves 13 trackers from the park, but no dogs."The dogs have been a big help. The team will feel it. They'll just have to work a bit harder."She said a helicopter was on standby and the team had been offered five hours' flying time over the next five days by Northern Cape Environment and Conservation.But they needed to pin down the general location of the lion before the helicopter could be used.Veterinarian Dewald Keet said the lion, which has been dubbed Sylvester on social media, would most likely move in a straight line unless disturbed. He added that the lion's sheep-killing spree would continue, but not for the eating."Lions don't like sheep that much. They find it difficult to get to the meat. But they will kill a lot due to the movement and for the rush."If they are persecuted, then [lions] are strictly nocturnal and hide in the day. Bait won't work."Marge Vivier, who owns a farm in Fraserburg, said farmers in the area had become "impatient".She said the search had not been made public during the lion's first three days missing."They didn't make it known at first. But we were warned not to go out at night. It's actually very exciting."..