Community protests escaped lions, rhino at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Protestors broke into staff accommodation on Saturday, and allegedly stole various items belonging to local field rangers.

A device which is used in the fight against rhino poaching was also stolen. 

Solar panels were left damaged and a security guard house was burnt down. 

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo says they believe the protests were sparked by the recent escape of two rhinos and two lions. 

One rhino was re-captured on Thursday and a second rhino was shot by a community member. 

The two lions exited the park through a gully near a railway line and it was later discovered that they had already killed four cows.

Mntambo says the public is requested to use the Memorial Gate or the Nyalazi Gate.

"As one of the resolutions taken during one of the community meeting attended by the former MEC Ravi Pillay was that the park be given two months to repair the damaged fence. 

"Another resolution was that local people should be employed to repair the fence. There are people from the local communities who have been employed to repair the fence and be fence-liners out of which some were employed before the MEC meet with the community."