The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) alerts the community of Malahleka and Tjakastad area of a vagrant leopard which has escaped from Nkomazi Game Reserve on or about the 06 May 2024. As soon as MTPA received a complaint on Monday (06 May 2024) of the leopard that escaped from the reserve that killed a goat, it immediately dispatched its team from Songimvelo Nature Reserve to handle the Damage Causing Animal (DCA) incident unfortunately without any success. A cage as a trap with a bait was set for 2 consecutive days, unfortunately without any success. The entity has been on site since Monday trying to get this dangerous animal.
On Tuesday the Nkomazi Game Reserve made a helicopter available which searched the area for 2 hours and also was not able to locate the leopard. The MTPA team is currently still busy in the area where the leopard was seen to continue with the operation and working together with a specialized dog unit to search for this extremely dangerous animal. The community is strongly advised not to try to capture the leopard on their own, avoid walking in the mountains at night until the leopard is found as it is still in hiding.
If the leopard is seen, the community is advised to urgently contact Ms. Nomcebo Kunene from MTPA on 072 661 6718
