Leopard shot after attacking boy

2008-08-27 21:16

Johannesburg - A 13-year-old boy is in a critical condition after he and several others were attacked by a leopard in Dinoka village near Zeerust on Wednesday, North West police said.

"The boy, Oageng Mogale, was in his home's yard when the [leopard] pounced on him. His father rushed to assist him but the animal attacked him too," said Inspector Sam Tselanyane.

Both father and son sustained injuries to the head and body. The leopard went up a hill after "a hassle with another relative in the yard".

Police and the North West Parks Board were alerted and the community joined in the search for the animal, said Tselanyane.

"While busy searching, the [leopard] emerged from the trees and pounced on the police officers.

"One of the cops fired shots from his rifle and the leopard diverted its attention to a police reservist who also fired a shot from his gun," he said.

"A reservist was shot twice in the leg by diverted ammunition."

He said the [leopard] was becoming more and more aggressive, attacking randomly.

However, the officers started shooting it simultaneously and it was killed.

All the injured were taken to the Zeerust hospital. It was not known where the leopard had come from.

Tselanayne said the village was in a very mountainous and bushy area near the Botswana border.

"It might have come from there, we don't know. The North West Parks Board is conducting investigations", he added.

Sapa earlier reported that it was a tiger and not a leopard that attacked the village.

- News24