Publications
Partners
Cape Town - If you see a human being in danger it goes without saying most of us would not hesitate to assist. But this video, capturing the recent leopard attack on a safari guide in the Kruger National Park is a bitter pill to swallow.
It shows the drastic measures taken to stop the animal, including how the safari vehicle and then a civilian vehicle drive over the animal to stop it in its tracks.
Watch the YouTube footage posted by BarcroftTV below - WARNING: Not for Sensitive viewers
READ: Quick-thinking tourists save Kruger guide in ambush attack
The leopard initially did not want to let go of Curtis Plumb's arm, a 38-year-old guide representing Nhongo Safari Tours.
According to eye witnesses statements released by SANParks, Plumb was with about 6-8 tourists on his Open Safari Vehicle (OSV), watching the leopard some two metres from the vehicle.
(Greatstock)
"The animal cunningly disappeared, probably went around the guide’ (driver)’s side while the group was still searching for it. The guide had relaxed on the OSV when suddenly the leopard leapt and grabbed his arm, trying to jump into the vehicle," said SANParks General Manager, Communications and Marketing, William Mabasa.
(Greatstock)
According to the SANParks statement the tourists started hitting the leopard with any object they had with them but the leopard would not let go of the guide’s arm.
Mabasa said that despite the appearance that the vehicle might have been too close to the animal, "there was no contravention of any SANParks rules".
(Greatstock)
“From the eyewitnesses who were there nobody provoked the scene. The exact distance was not measured, so we can’t say with certainty that it was two metres.”
“When you are in a closed vehicle you can get as close as a metre. Being in an open vehicle you need to judge what is a safe distance but the most important thing is to create space to be able to react in any given situation.”
The leopard was eventually put down due to the extent of its injuries.
