Various social media posts warned the community of Motetema and the surrounding areas after various reports were received following sightings of a leopard in the area last week.

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

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

“On Monday, a video was received of what looked like a leopard filmed from a vehicle 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. On Thursday, a video was sent of a leopard close to a home, and on Friday, 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 also 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.

After the various reports were received about the leopard last week, Grobler said that it went very quiet. She has not received any new reports or information regarding the leopard since last Friday.

“It is as if the leopard vanished into thin air,” said Grobler.

• 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.