The search for escaped eight-year-old tiger Sheba delivered results when a drone with an infrared camera spotted the cat at a watering hole near Walker Fruit Farms last night.

The female tiger is said to have escaped from her enclosure after someone cut the fence caging her and a male tiger.

After her escape, a large-scale search by local authorities, including the local Community Policing Forum (CPF), Meyerton police, SPCA and other stakeholders, was launched.

Gresham Mandy from De Deur sector 2 CPF says the drone located the tiger at around 19:30 last night. At around 20:00, trackers on foot found the tiger’s tracks around the watering hole in the same vicinity where she was spotted by the drone.

Mandy says the conditions in the bush were too dangerous to continue.

“We know she is in the vicinity and we are sure that it’s not going to take too long to capture her,” he says.

The tiger attacked and mauled a 39-year-old man who stays in the area. William Mokwena is said to be recovering in hospital with non-critical injuries.

Watch: Eyewitness recalls tiger attack

According to reports, the cat has also attacked several other animals, including two dogs and a pig.

Mandy cautioned neighbouring residents to report the tiger when sighted.

“She is a wild animal, even though she has been kept in a domestic environment. We would caution everyone against pursuing her if sighted. Rather call the local CPF or 10111. The plan is to dart and relocate her,” he says.

He says the plan is to spike meat with an anaesthetic and place it close to the watering hole in the hopes that Sheba will eat it and become sleepy, so that she can be captured.

As a back-up, the trackers have dart guns they can use if they manage to get close enough.

Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello has warned the community to be vigilant as the tiger is aggressive.