Fear has gripped residents of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, after a pride of lions escaped from a park located in the capital.
The Nairobi National Park, from where the lions escaped, is located near the central business district in the capital.
There has been conflicting reports about the exact number of lions. While initial reports pegged it at two, subsequent reports said there were at least four or six lions.
According to wildlife officials quoted by CNN, several teams are out to find the lions and commenced search operations as early as 3am local time to find the lions.
They have also warned residents to be vigilant and report any sighting of the big cats to authorities immediately.
According to local paper, Daily Nation, officials of the Kenyan Wildfire Service were informed of a possible sighting of two lionesses near a hospital.
“We were called at 4 a.m. and told that some two lionesses, we believe, including the new mother, had been seen on the road near Langata Hospital,” spokesman Paul Udoto told the newspaper. “We responded immediately. But we have not been able to track them down.”
Other animals in the National Park include leopards, buffaloes and giraffes.
Meanwhile, the search continues.