Man survives leopard attack

The residents of Bennde Mutale, a village which borders the Kruger National Park, are living in fear after the attack of a 29-year-old Zimbabwean livestock herder by a leopard.

The attack took place last Thursday, while the herder, Mr Tenious Chibari, was in some nearby bushes with a friend looking for his goats. The friend managed to run away unharmed, while Chibari battled with the creature for dear life.

Luckily he escaped with only injuries to his head, hands and shoulders.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the village where residents fear that it might be still near, as park officials were not able to capture or kill the animal.

Narrating his ordeal from his bed in the Donald Fraser Hospital, Chibari said it was by luck that he survived the attack. “We were out there looking for some goats which did not come back from the veldt, when I heard my herd dog barking loudly. I realised that there must be trouble somewhere but did not know that the leopard was so close to me. The dog ran towards me and then I realised that leopard was chasing the dog. I stood as still as possible and did not move as I knew it might attack me also,” he said.

He said the leopard suddenly attacked him and grabbed him by the shoulders. “I fell down and it then attacked my head. I gathered my strength and put my hand in its mouth and pulled its tongue out, while calling for help. My dog charged again, and this time the leopard let go and chased the dog. This probably saved my life,” he said.

He said he called on his ancestors and prayed while battling the big cat. “I have had enough of battling dangerous wild animals. Two years ago, I had to kill another leopard which wanted to kill me, and now this. I think I have to call it quits, because I have risked my life and killed a big baboon which was attacking goats in the village. There was no thank you from the village,” he said.

Chibari said he has learnt to live with wild animals and this is what is helping him survive such deadly attacks. “I have learnt to be quiet and not be emotional when confronted by danger. One should always give oneself time to think what to do in order to defend oneself from danger,” he said.

Residents who spoke on condition of anonymity said there had been constant escapes by wild animals from the Kruger National Park. “For years we have been complaining about animals escaping from the park to the village and nothing has been done to stop them. Our lives are at risk,” said one of the terrified residents.

They said they had informed the park about the recent attack.

Last year a man was seriously injured in a leopard attack while travelling between Maphophe and Josefa villages. Mr Bihamiri Maluleke was attacked by a leopard in October.

News - Date: 04 April 2014

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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