The South African government said in a press release that a wild leopard attacked two men at a South African Air Force base near Kruger National Park over the weekend.
One of the leopard's victims was a uniformed air force soldier who was attacked by the animal while jogging, news agencies reported. report, The other victim was a civilian working at a military base who was also attacked by the leopard while out for a walk, the media added, citing an air force spokesman. (Related: Video shows giraffe snatching 2-year-old from truck)
Leopard attacks man at South African air force base https://t.co/NlVZMqkE37
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) July 31, 2024
“The safety and wellbeing of our members is our top priority and we are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding these incidents. We are working with wildlife experts and local authorities to assess the situation and implement appropriate measures to mitigate future risks,” the South African government said. Said In a press release.
Brigadier General Donavan Chetty told the BBC that both victims were hospitalized but fortunately did not sustain any serious injuries. One has been released from hospital and the other is expected to be released on Thursday, the outlet reported. The leopard was captured on Wednesday and released in a conservation area 62 miles from the airbase, the BBC reported. The South African government has advised local residents to remain “vigilant” and avoid “outdoor activities alone”, the press release said.
Chetty told the BBC that while leopard encounters were relatively common, they were not usually a danger to people who live and work in the area.[The leopards] “Essentially the animals are among us,” he said, stressing that it is impossible to contain the animals with fences.
Kruger National Park is a world-famous national park where you can experience safaris. According to the park's website, it is “South Africa's largest game reserve, larger than Israel, covering nearly 2 million hectares of land across 352 kilometers (20,000 square kilometers) from north to south along the Mozambique border.” The park is said to be home to “all of Africa's iconic safari species,” plus “137 other mammal species and over 500 bird species.”
