The National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) ruled out, on Tuesday, the hypothesis of lion attacks in the regions of Khenifra and Oulmès, following an in-field inquiry. In a press release, the agency indicates that it has launched, with the help of local authorities and the Royal Gendarmerie, an in-depth prospecting mission on the ground. This comes following several reports claiming the sighting of a lion in the region of Khenifra (commune of Sebt Ait Rahou, Ait Boukhayou Tribe) and Oulmès (Forests of Tifoughaline and Bouquachmir). The surveys carried out involved field research aimed at locating traces on the reported locations and neighboring areas as well as collecting additional information from eyewitnesses. During field investigations, the footprints discovered in neighboring natural areas were identified as belonging to specimens of the canid family, probably a dog or a North African golden wolf. Furthermore, the autopsy carried out on a lamb in Oulmès, presumed to have been attacked by a lion according to local reports, revealed that the bite marks do not correspond to those of a lion, affirms ANEF. These bites, the agency said, are relatively small, thus ruling out the hypothesis of a lion attack. Likewise, a drone sweep was carried out according to a flight plan covering the forests bordering the reported areas. No observations or clues were raised. However, ANEF teams continue their field surveys and remain attentive to any testimony or observation of wild animals with a view to verifying their veracity and acting accordingly, the press release concludes.
