LEOPARD EUTHANISED IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AFTER ATTACKING EMPLOYEE
An employee from the Shalati Conservation
in the Kruger National Park was forced to fight off a leopard after being
attacked on Sunday.
South African National Parks (SANParks) said
in a statement that the employee is currently recovering in hospital.
“After fighting off the leopard and
shouting for help, the animal disappeared into the surrounding bush. The
injured worker was rushed to the doctor for treatment,” said SANParks Head
Ranger Cathy Dreyer.
Although the attack was serious and the
employee suffered deep lacerations as well as significant trauma, his injuries are
understood not to be life-threatening.
This is not the first time that a leopard
has attacked an employee. In recent months an employee was also attacked by a
leopard in the Kruger National Park. It’s not clear whether it’s the same
leopard, but Dreyer confirmed that they suspect it might be.
“Since the first incident, every effort had
been made to try and capture the leopard without success. Given the location of
the incident, we suspect that the destroyed leopard is the same animal
responsible for the first attack but we can never be sure.”
Jacaranda FM reports that the carcass of
the leopard was delivered to the state vets to undertake a post-mortem.
Image credit: Lowvelder