A lion standing on the roof of a game-transport trailer on a public road before jumping off and landing on its belly is not something you see every day.
By Joanie Bergh, journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
The clip went viral on social media and sparked a heated debate about whether it was real or something created by artificial intelligence. The video footage is indeed genuine, but there is no reason for concern, said Pat Loots, owner of the lion and a well-known game farmer in the Zeerust area. According to him, the lion was sedated on Monday shortly after escaping from the truck and was safely transported to its destination.
“The lion is 100% safe. Everything is under control, and there was no damage,” Loots said. He also emphasised that all the animal’s permits were in order.
In the video, the lion – standing on the trailer’s roof after escaping through a hatch – can be seen hesitating for a moment before jumping off. Instead of landing gracefully on all fours like a cat, it plops down on its belly in the road before getting up and walking calmly across the road.
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Reactions from Social Media Users
The video drew mixed reactions on social media, with some users finding it funny:
- “That’s the worst landing I’ve ever seen from a cat.”
- “It’s videos like this that make Americans think lions roam freely all over South Africa.”
Others were upset and voiced sharp criticism:
- “What if there were schoolchildren walking along the road?”
- “How could someone transport a lion with an open roof like that? That’s highly reckless.”
- “The lion must have been hurt jumping from a moving vehicle at that height. The transport company should be fined.”
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Investigation Into the Incident
The North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism confirmed in a statement that the incident was being investigated.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the conditions of the transport permit may have been breached. The full investigation will determine whether the owner complied with all relevant legislation, including the South African National Standards (SANS 1884-3), which regulate the transport, handling and welfare of carnivores.
This involves compliance with specific legal and safety specifications for cage and vehicle design, animal handling and general welfare, as set out in the national guidelines.
The department will also check compliance with condition 5 of the permit, which requires the holder to have public liability insurance and to be liable for any damage caused by an escaped animal.
“Game farmers and transporters are strongly encouraged to apply for all applicable permits for the transport of game and to adhere to permit conditions and safety measures during transport, as required by law. Compliance with these safety measures is of the utmost importance for safe transport and to minimise risks to the community.”
Loots said he welcomed the investigation.
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