Flying in a helicopter and armed with tranquilliser guns, South African game rangers are intensifying the search for a young lion that escaped from a wildlife park last week.

Officials said the three-year old lion was believed to have escaped on June 5 through a hole under the perimeter fence at the Karoo National Park.

A male lion. Photo Credit: National Geographic

They said the lion was discovered missing after farmers reported tracks on their private property.

“We are still searching for it, but with a master tracker on board since yesterday we believe we are getting closer,” said Karoo Park spokeswoman, Fayroush Ludick.

Ludick said when the lion is found would likely be shot with a tranquilliser dart and returned to the wildlife park it escaped from.

Rangers earlier failed to lure the animal with an antelope carcass.

Situated about halfway between Cape Town and Johannesburg, the Karoo National Park is a hilly region of grassy scrub land and winding river valleys, making tracking challenging.

Two weeks ago, an American tourist was mauled to death when a lioness attacked her through the open window of a car while she was driving in the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s biggest safari park.

(Reuters/NAN)