Updated February 19, 2016
(CNN)A
group of lions left a mostly enclosed park Friday and were reported
wandering in residential areas in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, leaving
residents on edge and officials scrambling to find the animals.
Two
of them -- a lioness and her cub -- were safely back at the Nairobi
National Park by Friday afternoon, but at least two others remained
missing, Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udoto told CNN.
The
public reported seeing lions in crowded residential areas early Friday,
springing the wildlife service's search teams into action.
Udoto
told CNN that the lions still on the loose likely would return to the
park before daybreak Saturday. Udoto didn't say how the first two lions
had returned to the park.
Predawn search
The
117-square-kilometer (45-square-mile) park, near Nairobi's central
business district, is largely bounded by an electric fence to keep
animals inside. But the park's south side -- away from
the city -- is instead bordered by a river. It wasn't immediately clear
what path the lions took to leave the park and enter the residential
areas.
Animals at the park include
leopards, buffaloes and giraffes grazing in open spaces, with the city's
skyline in the background.
Officials urged vigilance and warned residents to call a toll-free number if they spot the big cats.
"Our team has been on ground since 3 a.m. to ensure that the ... lions are safely back," the Kenya Wildlife Service tweeted.
Lioness and cubs
A caller told wildlife officials the animals were seen near a Nairobi hospital, Udoto told the Daily Nation newspaper. The caller said the animals included a lioness and cubs.
Others called to say they saw the lions in crowded residential areas, he said.
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