ALEISHA TISSEN

JOHANNESBURG - A spot fine is the only ‘punishment’ facing the owners of Panjo, the Bengal tiger who escaped in transit from Bronkhorstspruit to Springs on Monday.

Goosey Fernandes has been fined for transporting the 17-month-old tiger without a permit.

“In terms of the law, it is not an offence to keep this cat, the only problem is how he was being transported. We will check his enclosure but I don’t see why there would be any problem, we are definitely not taking him away,” Rephus Morore Mphahlele, an environmental management inspector told The Citizen yesterday.

He declined to comment on the amount the Fernandes’ would be fined.

Mphahlele added all outstanding issues would be sorted with the permit office.

Rose Fernandes, the wife of Goosey, explained that an application for a permit was made when Panjo was first obtained.

“We’ve given them all the necessary documents and are still waiting. We have the necessary paperwork. We’ve done everything correctly,” she said.

Panjo was found on a farm near Verena on Wednesday evening after a dog from Sabi Sands Predator Tracking Unit alerted his handler to the tiger’s whereabouts.

Justin Fernandes, Goosey’s son, said after Panjo was found he managed to wolf down about 20kg of beef and a half litre of milk from his bottle.

“He was very hungry. We looked through his faeces this morning (Thursday) and found only grass so it shows he didn’t eat while he was away,” said Justin.

After his ordeal, Panjo spent his first day at home relaxing on the grass and napping in between posing for the cameras.

Panjo will soon be joined by another four tigers if blood tests indicate the animals are healthy. Goosey has bought an additional female for Panjo, a female white tiger pup and a male and female who are already a couple.

“We are wanting to bring them here from Zeerust to Jugomaro (the Fernandes’ farm between Marble Hall and Groblersdal in Limpopo) and place them in a breeding programme. We can’t allow this species to go extinct,” he said.

The Fernandes family have said they will no longer be transporting Panjo to the vet or taking him to their home in Springs. “The vet will come here in future. Panjo will be kept behind lock and key in his enclosure here,” said Rosa.

aleisha@citizen.co.za