An injured and hungry leopard turned to catching cats and dogs in the south-eastern parts of Phalaborwa for her survival. This in turn alerted pet owners to her predicament and a rescue squad was called in.
The young female had been caught in a snare and had a bad cut around her neck. Residents had spotted her near the Anna Botha Flats in town.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Dr Gerrit Scheepers, local veterinarian, caught her in a cage and removed the thin cable from her neck. Dr Scheepers administered antibiotics and other medical care before she was taken to Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre near Hoedspruit.
According to Dr. Scheepers, she should be there for at least two months. Moholoholo has rehabilitated and released 13 leopards of which five have been relocated to Shamwari in the Eastern Cape.