Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality warned the community of Motetema and surrounding areas on their Facebook page after various reports were received following sightings of a leopard in the area.

Simon Makua, from the communication unit of Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality, said the relevant authorities have been notified and are currently tracking the animal.

According to Natalie Grobler, owner of Vallei Dierefonds, reports of a leopard in Motetema started on Monday morning, after a resident reported that his chickens were eaten by a leopard on Sunday night.

Various other reports of sightings, as well as livestock going missing, flooded in shortly after that.

“On Monday, a video was received of what looked like a leopard filmed from a vehicle on the road after a sighting on the pass between Motetema and Tafelkop. On Wednesday, a photo was received of the leopard in the road just outside of Motetema that was sent through by a taxi driver. Yesterday, a video was sent of a leopard close to a home, and this morning, a photo of a dried-up carcass of a goat was sent as proof that the leopard had been eating livestock in the area. Unfortunately, a lot of the videos and photographs have since been reported to be fake. As of now, no concrete evidence of a leopard in the area was received,” said Grobler.

Grobler has since visited the area twice, looking for evidence or sightings of the leopard, but without luck.

Grobler spoke to various institutions that are currently on the lookout for the animal, and helped with permits and two cages to trap the animal, which have been set up in key areas where most sightings were reported.

Grobler urges Motetema residents and the surrounding areas to notify her of any leopard sightings and not to harm the animal. She can be reached on 076 411 8476.

@die.daller

The community of Motetema and the surrounding areas are warned to be vigilant following reports of a leopard sighted roaming the area. Various videos and photos was shared of the alleged sightings. Read the full article on the Observer Daller website: https://www.citizen.co.za/middelburg-observer/observer-daller/#groblersdal #marblehall #sekhukhune #eliasmotsoaledi #ephraimmogale   

♬ original sound – Die Daller –

• Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality strongly urged residents not to approach the leopard and to immediately report any sightings to 082 477 3493 or 078 999 2562.