The hunt is over, the lion is back in its cage!
Weeks after a lion escaped from a South African national park, it has finally been captured after being shot with a dart from a helicopter.
The 3-year-old male triggered a major search when it slipped through a fence at the Karoo National Park in the Western Cape and evaded all efforts to track it down.
In a statement, park manager Nico van der Walt said:
“It appears the young lad had covered over 300 kilometres (190 miles) during his journey, and a number of sheep and a kudu (antelopes) were reported to have been killed,”
Reports say the lion was on a steep cliff when it was shot on Monday with a tranquiliser dart by vets in the helicopter, which was then used to carry it off the mountain in a sling.
Van der Walt said the lion was in good health and would be put under observation for the time being.
Dubbed 'Sylvester' in local media, the lion is believed to have been forced out of the park by older lions.