JUSTIN ARENSTEIN, Nelspruit | Monday 10.00PM
THE leopard that attacked and killed a 25-year-old Kruger National Park ranger, Charles Swart, over the weekend was old and desperately hungry after apparently being forced out of its traditional hunting area by younger challengers, park director David Mabunda said on Monday evening.
Preliminary medical examinations indicate that Swart died almost immediately after the 11-year-old leopard sprang at him and grabbed him by the throat on Friday night.
Swart was guarding a group of 20 tourists at the time, after they stopped to stretch their legs at roughly 6.45pm at Matsulu Bridge, during a night drive in the park.
Although horrified tourists tried to chase the leopard off by shining lights, screaming and shooting at it, the predator dragged Swart off the bridge and into nearby bushes.
After trying to call for help unsuccessfully on the radio, the tourists drove to Malelane gate where they met park employee Thomas Ndlovu.
Armed park rangers arrived on the attack scene shortly afterwards and spotted the leopard just below the bridge. “When the leopard lifted its head, Corporal Maluleke shot and killed it,” said Mabunda.
He added that a post mortem established that the leopard was an old male in very poor condition with a range of bite and scratch wounds indicating that it may have been involved in territorial fights with younger leopards. The leopard also had severe mange, indicating poor nutrition and appeared to have been desperately hungry. – African Eye News Service