“If the tiger rushes and attacks a person, we, unfortunately, have the mandate of the owner as well as the police to dispose of the animal.”

These were the word of Gresham Mandy from the De Deur sector 2 CPF near Vereeniging in Gauteng South when speaking to Vaalweekblad this morning about the tiger that had escaped from her owner Rassie Erasmus’ smallholding near Walkerville on Friday.

Killing the tiger will be a last resort, however – the plan is to dart and relocate her.

Members of the police, CPF, volunteers, SPCA and wildlife specialists are currently looking for the female tiger after she escaped from her camp, reportedly after a fence was cut.

Erasmus could not be reached for comment and according to Mandy, Erasmus is not interested in talking to the media.

The eight-year-old female tiger named Sheeba has already killed two dogs and attacked a person.

The victim, 39-year-old William Mokwena, is currently recovering in a hospital. It is believed that his injuries are not critical.

Mandy says the search is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but adds that they picked up fresh tracks in the vicinity close to where they are stationed.

“We know she is in the vicinity and we are sure that it’s not going to take too long to capture her. We have involved the national police, who will be sending out their tracking team. We have been here since Sunday morning,” he adds.

Residents of Walkerville are asked to call the SPCA on 083 292 5862 if they spot the animal. They can also call Mark (from the local CPF) on 082 559 4158 or Steven (also from the local CPF) on 073 170 4402, or call the control room on 016 360 7500.

Residents are asked to stay away from the animal as she is dangerous.

Owning exotic pets in SA

A press release by the Endangered Wildlife Trust, published on The Cape Exotic Animal Hospital’s website, states that a permit to keep exotic pets is only required in some provinces.

“In Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo no permit is required for the legal possession or keeping of an exotic wild animal. However, any import into, export out of, or transporting of an exotic wild animal, within any of the nine provinces, always requires a permit.

“Possession (or keeping) permits and permits to sell and purchase any wild animal are required in the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape, KZN and the Free State, as well as for the import, export and transport of these animals,” the statement reads.

NSPCA calls for stricter measures

The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has long called for stricter regulations to be put into place.

In an article on their website, the NSPCA says the organisation ‘remains steadfastly opposed to exotic animals being kept as pets or in captivity’.

“In Gauteng, tigers are being kept as pets in residential areas where there is simply no way that these creatures can experience all the freedoms associated with their environment in the wild,” the story adds.