Shooting leopard Hukumuri was last resort

According to Africa Geographic, Hukumuri, a well-known leopard in the Lowveld, had already been shot and killed on January 16. News of his death, however, only surfaced on February 10 in various social media posts.

Two days after, the MTPA responded with a media statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the nine-year-old leopard’s death.

“The MTPA recently had to respond to a call to shoot a male leopard that was reported to have killed livestock in the rural village of Seville B, otherwise known as Makeripeni, close to the Manyeleti Nature Reserve boundary,” the statement read.

“The decision to shoot the leopard was our last resort as multiple attempts were made by our staff to catch the leopard.”

It said the process was conducted under very difficult and challenging conditions.

“Following the leopard’s tracks, it became evident that it had already infiltrated the village and killed several goats, pigs and a dog, and it was becoming aggressive. It posed great danger to the nearby community members.”

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However sad the incident was, the MTPA said it applauded the community for working with it and ensuring the matter was handled with the support of the agency.

“The loss of any animal is tragic and it is important to emphasise the conditions under which our conservationists work to ensure that we rescue the animals while at the same time safeguarding human lives.

“A necropsy was conducted by the state veterinarians and found that the leopard was in poor condition, possibly as a result of a broken canine tooth. It was further discovered that the leopard was blind in the right eye. No diseases were found in the blood smears or organs which may have contributed to its poor condition. It seems as though the leopard was probably pushed out of his territory.”

Some social media posts suggested that a leopard had taken Hukumuri’s kill from him, after which he had followed it to the village.

The MTPA said, however, that this behaviour is completely out of the ordinary for a leopard.

“During the search operation conducted by our field rangers, it was reported that there were tracks of a single poacher with dogs entering and exiting the reserve near the Seville B area. While searching for the leopard, half an impala carcass was also found at a nearby house occupied by a well-known poacher.”

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A case of illegal possession of dead wild game has been opened against him at the Mhala Police Station.

The MTPA expressly indicated that the poacher was not in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, where Hurukami had originated, but had been illegally hunting in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve.

“At this stage there is no evidence that the poacher had stolen the carcass from the leopard. We would further like to indicate that the statements that the leopard followed a poacher back to the village is completely unfounded and totally unlike typical leopard behaviour.

“As the MTPA we will continue with our efforts to save and conserve, although, at times, serving human lives becomes a priority when dangerous animals are at the loose.”