NATIONAL NEWS - A video of a man slapping a dead leopard in the Kruger National Park caused public uproar. The South African National Parks (SANParks) completed their investigation explaining the circumstances behind the video, and what steps they are taking to prevent it from happening again.
A statement by the general manager for communications and marketing of Kruger National Park (KNP), Ike Phaahla, follows a leopard being euthanised after an attack on a concession staff member who was on his way to work.
The attack was the second on an individual in almost the same vicinity.
“A management incident report has been completed with recommendations to the SANParks board and the minister on ways to minimise the possibility of such incidences reoccurring. The management report found that official policies and procedures were followed in the decision and actions that led to the euthanasia of the leopard,” he says.
“Problems were unfortunately experienced during the recovery of the carcass after the ranger corporal asked for assistance from bystanders to assist in retrieving the carcass from the bushes,” explains Phaahla.
He says the incident took place in the administrative area of Skukuza, less than 100 metres from the employees’ living quarters. After the leopard had been euthanised some residents gathered on the road.
“Due to the large size of the leopard, the ranger asked three of the bystanders to assist in moving the dead leopard. It was found that the rangers did not take adequate precautions to control this process and it was at this point that the incident captured on video took place,” he says
Phaahla adds that all identified SANParks employees were questioned and submitted statements.
The individual who struck the leopard is not a SANParks employee and has been barred from entering the Kruger National Park.
Disciplinary action is ongoing for all SANParks officials as well as the individual who filmed the incident.
Recommendations on how to limit future incidences of human-wildlife conflict, includes revisiting and communicating the KNP code of conduct to visitors and residents alike, as well as amending standard operating procedures to improve actions on potential crowd control in the few incidences in which animals may be euthanised in close proximity to humans.
SANParks also wished the two individuals who were injured a speedy and full recovery.
