KASUNGU-(MaraviPost)-Three lions reportedly escaped from Kasungu National Park on Wednesday morning to a nearby Bua community, raising fear amongst the populace.

This is the first time for lions to escape from the country’s reserve whose reasons remain scratchy for the wild animals to spurt.

Director of National Parks and Wildlife, Bryton Kumchedwa confirmed the reports saying rangers have been deployed to hunt for and bring back the lions into the forest reserves.

Kumchedwa assured the public that the department is treating the matter with urgency that the freed wild animals, should not harm the communities.

He however warned the villages to carefully heed the freed lions reports and that they be on alert by among others, avoid moving about at night.

“We have indeed received reports that three lions have escaped from Kasungu National Park. We are treating the reports with urgency. This is the reason we have deployed rangers to bring back the freed animals into the reserve.

“Will give the public a full report of the exercise as to why the lions escaped from the national park. However, we are warning the surrounding communities particularly Bua, to be on alert on anything with strange animal voices. They should avoid travelling at night as these are carnivores whose prey is meat including people,” Kumchedwa warned.

Meanwhile rangers report they spotted footprints of two large lions and those of a small one.

They followed the trail, however report they lost the footprint trail.

They have been advised to remain in the suspected area until they find them.

The area in question is Chinkhoma which is about 120kms to Lilongwe City.

Experts at the Nature Sanctuary in Lilongwe have advised the searching team to concentrate the hunt on the river banks or towards homes with livestock like goats.