Villagers recuperating after leopard attack

August 28 2008 at 06:55PM

A 13-year-old boy and three other people were in a stable condition on Thursday in a Zeerust hospital after being attacked by a leopard, North West police said.

"They are actually doing very well. The station commissioner went to see all of them this morning. They are in a normal ward and recovering well," said Superintendent Lesego Metsi.

Oageng Mogale, 13, his father, uncle, two police officers and a villager were attacked by the leopard on Wednesday in Dinokeng village.

Mogale was in his home yard when the leopard pounced on him. His father and uncle were also attacked while trying to assist him.


All three sustained injuries to the head and body.

A search for the leopard in the mountains by the North West Parks Board, the SAPS and community members turned ugly when it pounced on two police officers and an elderly civilian.

Shots were fired at it, and some officers were hit. One sustained bullet wounds to the thigh, ankle, shoulder and legs.

The leopard was eventually killed.

On Thursday morning, the Dinokeng village woke up to find four dead sheep, suspected to have been attacked by "some kind of animal".

Metsi said it could have been another leopard or a wild cat.

Parks board spokesperson Cindy Zwane ruled that out, saying investigations conducted at the scene showed it was a dog.

Last year, 11 sheep were killed by a wild cat.

"There's always leopards in this place. But this time, it wasn't a leopard.

"Markings show that it was a dog but further investigations are being conducted,' said Zwane. - Sapa