Gladys Shai, a resident, said that they have sleepless nights because of the danger the endangered species presents. “We have been attacked and our livestock killed. I have lost over 18 goats so far, and I am going to lose more if no one relocates them.” According to her, one of the collared dogs was caught during an aerial operation on August 16. She said there were still two known dogs running loose without collars.

“We live in fear every day and it is extremely stressful and worrisome, especially when our children play outside because they are not as cautious. “We also worry when they walk to school, you pray that your child returns home safe,” she said. She said that because of the endangered status of the dogs, they will end up in trouble if they take action. “We are like sitting ducks,” she added.

Also read: Three leopards killed on consecutive weekends in Hoedspruit

Thabang Kgohloane, a community member who works with Kulani Nyakane on a project called Planet Connect, alerting nature reserves on escaped wildlife, said Nyakane did visit the area. He said Nyakane was present when the first dog was captured but is currently unavailable because of work commitments. “We ask for patience from the community, we are trying our best to make sure that the remaining two are captured,” he said.

He said that what they were told was that the wild dogs are from the Cape Vulture Lodge reserve but are not sure of it. “If they are really from there, we will make sure that they are captured and returned. If they are not from there, we will have to ask all the nature reserves we work with to make sure to find a place to return them to. “Once Kulani returns, we will try to capture them. “For now, we ask that residents be vigilant, alert and report when sighting the dogs,” he told the Herald.