“I saw the leopard feasting on a rotten donkey. The donkey was hit and killed by a truck a few days ago,” said Cobus Lombard, the man who claims he travels the Giyani road every day.

“This is not the first time this happens, the leopards are always eating road kill and we always see it,” he told the Herald.

In a statement received from the police, they warned community members about a leopard which was suspected to have escaped from the Kruger National Park.

“It is alleged that a motorist was travelling on the Giyani-Phalaborwa road and saw a leopard walking on the side of the road,” the police said in a statement.

The police said that the Department of Environmental and Nature Conservation was alerted and are searching for the loose leopard.

Video: Supplied to the Herald by a conservationist in Phalaborwa

The police however, maintain their comment that a lion was also spotted at the same place.

Read: BREAKING: Lion allegedly on the loose in the Phalaborwa-area

“This accelerates more worries to the police as on Monday, a lion was seen on the very same spot,” stated the Lulekani Police Spokesperson, Sergeant Reoh Mabunda.

The HERALD also contacted Drew Abrahamson from Captured in Africa Foundation.

“Leopards are very dangerous animals and if you don’t see them and  bump into them by surprise they don’t give any warning till the last second,” Abrahamson said.

There is no way to catch a Leopard other than having to use a bait trap or dogs of which she believes both are incredibly cruel, according to her.

“If you see it, keep still and back away slowly keeping it in sight at all times.”

Abrahamson also explained that Leopards are masters at escape.

The Herald will keep you updated.