Did anyone on here hear anything about a leopard getting ahold of a PH and a client this week?? The client's name is William Adair from Juneau, Alaska, and he and perhaps his PH (unknown name) are in a Jo-berg hospital. Apparently Adair was nicked by a bullet that the other hunter shot the leopard off him with. I have a few details, but haven't been able to contact anyone.

Give us some more of the details, if you have them. Where were they hunting? How bad is the mauling, the wound from the shot, etc. etc.?

I didn't know the client's name but I have 60% of the story. I just got back from Zim and was successful in taking a leopard with Matapula Hunters. My PH was Mark Ellement one of the owners of the company. The houndsman was Warrick Evans, a very well known and experienced houndsman with some of the best dogs in all of Africa. Warrick hunts with everyone from Morkore in the Save, to Norman Crooks, and alot with Matapula with Mark Butcher and Mark Ellement.

The incident was the hunt happen during the hunt right after mine. The extent of the story in which I know so far is that the cat got onto Warrick (with Josie Wales Warrick's female Jack Russell terrier firmly attached to the leopard's ear) and began to chew Warricks arm. Andre, the PH from Matapula shot the cat where he could and got the cat off of Warrick, but not killing it. The leopard get up right by the PH, goes past him, past the hunter and jumps on the observer. This is where the hunter shoots the cat off the observer but also thru the ankle of the observer. Fortunalely, the shot missed the bone and I believe did as little damage as a gun shot could do.


I don't know how this situation got to this point, but personally knowing the experience of the PH and Warrick( who is like having a second PH, who carries a .375 flanged double) I could only guess the leopard was wounded and this happened on followup. I don't know where extactly this happen. I do know all of Matapula's areas. Many times tight caves to come into play. Again I am only guessing as to the hunt details. I do know the actual attack details.

Thanks - Adair and I hunted with Warwick in late 2005. He is a rather colorful indivdual to say the least.

Last I hear they were in Jo-burg and had successful surgery. The client that shot the leopard off Adair is a physician and was able to get emergency treatment started right away. It is my understanding this was one bloody mess.

It is also my understanding the leopard was not wounded before the attack on Evans - just tired of being messed with. Will add more when I hear from Adair.

So much for leopards with dogs being unfair or unsporting!

Sweet bloody Jaysus!

I've chased spotties with Butch and Warrie as well (in 2002) so this hits awfully close to home...

One thing I will say: that spottie has got gonads of gold-plated brass to jump on that whacking great South African! Warrie is a mountain of a man, a fine hunter and a fellow I'm proud to call my friend.

Both of our JRTs came to us through Warrie (including Max, a son of Scruffy who helped me take my tom). Lightning is spot-on about both Warrie's abilities and the talents of his pack.

Jane and I will be holding thumbs for both the injured parties and wish godspeed and a fast recovery for all.

Mark

Have to agree it was a cheeky tom to take on Evans - it was lucky it died of gunshots instead of getting dismembered. Hopefully I'll get the story from him some day.

Thanks for the update. I'm doing the same type of hunt in less than 50 days.

When my hunt with Norman Crooks was sucessful last month I very happy we had no trouble. I agree chasing with hounds is no cake walk and can go south quickly. Our prayers go out for their speedy recovery.

I hope they have a speedy recovery.

Remind me of the incident with Hagen Eggert a couple of years ago where the client tried to shoot off a wounded leopard. Hit Hagen underneath his knee with a 8x68. Leg was amputated but he is doing fine again.

This was sent to me a few days ago by my PH buddy Nigel Theisen when we were discussing hunting plans for this fall.


Nigel said:

"A friend of mine Warrick Evans got hammered by a leopard yesterday morning. I was talking to him at one time when you were interested in the possibility of doing a leopard with dogs. Warrick is the owner of the packs of dogs he brings up from RSA. It was a right cluster fuck and he ended up being badly mauled on his left arm and the client ended up shooting the leopard off his observer buddy, but the exiting bullet got his buddy through the calf just bellow the knee. I saw them both in hospital this afternoon, Warrick hopes to be out in 4 or 5 days time if there is no infection and they can sow it all up, much longer to recuperate. Bill the poor client, is going to be in there longer, they are talking at least 10 days, skin graphs etc as it was a .375 soft nose that had already passed through the cat so ended up taking out a chunk of his muscle. Still he is lucky imagine if it had hit his knee!"

All,

I fired off a note to Warrie this morning, although I don't really expect a response from anyone for at least a few days as I'm guessing his people may have gone up to Jo-berg to be with him.

I'll post any additional information that comes my way (with Warrie's permission, of course).

Regards,

Mark

There is a reason why the leopard is part of the big five. Unfortunately some people have to go trough a bad experience for us to realize it again.

Good News, all!

Earlier this morning I received a brief note from Warrie Evans...

He's home from hospital and reports that the specialist doesn't expect him to have any permanent damage. And, in typical Evans fashion, confirmed that his faithful little JRT bitch was "giving the leopard hell" the whole time!

Spotties may be fast and fierce, but I for one am glad that JRT's don't weigh 175 pounds and have a bad attitude the size of their "heart"! Our pair is hard enough on the furniture and the local squirrel population as it is...

Continued best wishes for all involved,

Mark

Web posted May 30, 2007

Leopard attacks Juneau man
Restaurant owner also accidentally shot when Zimbabwe hunt goes awry

By BRITTANY RETHERFORD
JUNEAU EMPIRE

A Juneau doctor helped save a friend from an attacking leopard but shot him in the calf during a hunt gone sour last week in Zimbabwe.

Sound off on the important issues at
Bill Adair, owner of Bullwinkle's Pizza Parlor, remained hospitalized Tuesday in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is recovering from a gunshot wound that damaged at least a tendon in his upper calf, said Emmett Marlow, manager of the restaurant.

Adair is expected to be flown to a Seattle hospital today for further treatment, Marlow said.

Adair and his friend, Dr. David Miller, had been hunting for leopard in Zimbabwe when one of the cats pounced on their guide.

"The leopard circled back on them and attacked the guide," Marlow said Adair told him over satellite phone. Adair then went to help the guide and the leopard turned on him.

"He started screaming at Dr. Miller to shoot it," Marlow said.

Miller aimed and hit the leopard, but the bullet from the high-powered rifle passed through the cat and struck Adair in the calf.

The guide, whose arm was injured, also tried to shoot the leopard, Marlow said. Eventually the cat was killed.

Miller, a surgeon, treated Adair's wound in the field before he was transported to a hospital. The incident occurred either May 21 or 22.

Marlow said he last spoke with Adair early Tuesday, mostly about business.

"He sounded pretty good. They sent some pictures up to our bookkeeper," he said. "I didn't know leopards got that big."

Leopards are known to be the most elusive of the big cats and, unlike species such as lions, are solitary creatures. They vary in size from 60 to 150 pounds, with males being larger.

Well, I got got sent some pics today, so here they are:







Guess you better be careful when it comes to messin' w/pussies!!!
___________________________________________

My wife works with the Doc involved.

I've met Mr. Adiar a few times.



MM

MM - I have the same photos - you saved me the effort of posting these.

Did anyone mention the term "Dangerous Game"...??