Police have confirmed that the lion spotted roaming in Redan, between Meyerton and Vereeniging, has been found. Image credit Facebook
Police have found the lion that kept residents of Redan, Meyerton and Vereeniging on edge for two days. With the Vaal lion found on Thursday evening, experts are now preparing to move the animal to a secure place.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed the news. She said the lion has since been located. According to police, the relevant professionals have finalised arrangements to move it to a secure environment. However, police have not said where they found the lion or where it will go.
How the Vaal lion found its way into the news
The drama began in the early hours of Wednesday. A security guard on patrol in Redan, between Meyerton and Vereeniging, spotted the animal at about 03:50. At first, he thought it was a smaller animal. However, when he switched on his phone’s torch, he realised it was much bigger. He quickly took a photo and ran to safety.
Soon afterwards, a police K9 member alerted Vereeniging police to a social media post about the lion. Officers from Vereeniging and the K9 unit then launched a search. In addition, private security companies joined in with drones, and police reportedly used thermal imaging to track the animal.
Meanwhile, the Midvaal and Emfuleni municipalities urged residents to stay alert. They asked people to avoid isolated areas, keep children and pets indoors and never approach the animal.
The lion’s origin remains a mystery. According to Muridili, nobody knows who owns it, and police are still investigating where it came from. Bloufontein Wildlife Park in Meyerton has said the lion did not come from its facility and that all its animals are accounted for.
Furthermore, police warned that false information on social media made the search harder. Muridili said fake reports caused unnecessary panic. She urged residents to stop sharing unverified posts and to rely on official updates. Bloufontein Wildlife Park also said fake sightings and AI generated images made it difficult to confirm real sightings.
Commentary across social media platforms has shown relief at the news. Many users praised the search teams, while others want to know how a lion ended up roaming the streets of the Vaal in the first place.