The spokesperson for the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Dumisa Seshabela, says the lions escaped from the Elandsfontein farm private facility in Lichtenburg on Friday night.

She says it is believed that there was an attempt to poach the animals as their cage fence was tempered with.

Seshabela adds that all the lions were safely recaptured after animal control specialists, together with the police, embarked on a search to recapture them.

"Departmental biodiversity officials conducted an inspection and confirmed that the permit of the owner is still valid and no non-compliance was detected. Further investigations will follow and we thank our officials, law enforcement and the community for all the efforts taken," Seshabela further adds.

In 2019 OFM News reported that a stray lion in the Vermaas and Bospoort agricultural area in the province went missing. Also, last year another lion escaped from a trailer near Wolmaransstad. The lion was lost in transit between Wolmaransstad and Makwassie before it was recaptured.

OFM News