Leopard gets blame for pet’s demise
A WILLOWMORE family believe a leopard on the loose has targeted their pets, with one missing and the other found dead.
Bertus Volschenk, 53, said he had heard an odd noise in his garden at about 2.30am on Thursday, while his three spaniels started to bark frantically.
“We went outside to check and found our dogs barking at a big tree,” he said.
“Our three-month-old female dog has since been missing.”
Volschenk said they started to search for the missing spaniel on Friday and instead found their older, blind dog lying dead in the corner of the garden.
“The dog was covered in blood and had a big hole on his backside.”
Volschenk said big paw prints were also spotted next to the dog’s body.
“We are terrified. We have a 10-year-old child at home that we can’t even let go and play. We fear that the leopard may attack her,” he said.
Willowmore police spokesman Constable Nozuko Miso said a report had been received from the Volschenk family.
“On Wednesday, we received a report that a lady had seen it [the leopard] in the bushes,” Miso said.
“Our members are patrolling the area. We hope to find it soon.”
Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism official Dayalan Govender also said reports had been received of a leopard in the area.
Pictures of the animal’s tracks were obtained, but this showed it was probably a porcupine or dog, he said.
“There has been no evidence that there is a leopard in the area,” Govender said.
Landmark Foundation environmental manager Bool Smuts was also investigating.
“Smuts advised me that he had been contacted by residents,” Govender said.
He said a lack of evidence prevented the department from doing more.
“If there is a leopard in the area it will, in all likelihood, be trapped and relocated to a conservation area,” Govender said.
Smuts said the foundation would intervene if it was confirmed to be a leopard.
“We are still gathering facts. When we are certain it is a leopard we’ll set up a team and try to trap it with a cage,” he said.