A leopard has attacked and injured two military personnel at a South African air force base close to the renowned Kruger National Park.
The injured members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are in stable condition and recovering from what an air force spokesman described as “mostly scratches” sustained during separate encounters with the leopard.
The unprovoked attacks occurred between Friday and Sunday last week at the northeastern Hoedspruit air base, according to Brigadier General Donavan Chetty. One officer was attacked while jogging in the morning, and the other while leaving work in the afternoon.
The base is situated within the catchment area of Kruger National Park, a major tourist destination known for its abundant wildlife, which can lead to frequent encounters with wild animals, Chetty noted.
Environmental authorities located and captured the female leopard on Wednesday and transferred it to a natural reserve, Chetty said.
Earlier, Hoedspruit’s Maruleng municipality had issued a warning to residents to be cautious after the leopard was spotted roaming around the streets of the town.
South African parks and game reserves are generally enclosed to keep wildlife contained within their boundaries. However, Chetty explained that leopards, known for their agility, are adept at bypassing such barriers.
In 2022, six lions had to be euthanised after escaping from a game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal through a breach in the perimeter fence, subsequently terrorising nearby residents.