I have been uncharacteristically quiet over the numerous postings on social media about the leopard attack which has received such outpourings of emotion.
Now that things are a tad quieter, let’s examine this event in detail, and let you all in on a few home-truths…..
First and foremost must be mention of totally irresponsible reporting. Reporting that feeds emotions rather than the facts. One newspaper even went so far as to refer to the animal as a tiger.
Of course, people lap all this up, sitting back in their comfortable homes, looking at expensive computer equipment and making some of the most inane comments I have ever seen.
Look into the human aspect first.
The leopard was at the edge of the bush, fairly close to the road. The only unusual aspect to this is that leopard are secretive, cautious and very shy. Perhaps the driver should have realised something was amiss at this stage, but so many animals in parks and reserves are so well habituated to vehicles that he didn’t consider anything unusual.
I would also point out that the guides and rangers doing this sort of job are highly trained, very experienced individuals. To ridicule him on public forums without any idea of the circumstances is doing a dedicated man a disservice. He doesn’t deserve all the abuse heaped upon him.
These individuals have dedicated their lives, for minimal remuneration, not only to give their clients a memorable bush experience, but also work tirelessly in the bush, looking out for poaching incidents, managing the ecological aspects of the area they work in and ensuring the overall well-being of the animals they care about.
So he stopped to give his clients a rare photo opportunity.
The driver did nothing wrong.
Then the doo-doo really hit the fan.
The leopard advanced and attacked the driver through the open side of the door, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him from the vehicle.
Clients all tried to discourage the animal by throwing their camera bags and other objects at it, to no avail.
A quick-thinking visitor in another vehicle drove towards the animal, opening his door in an attempt to dislodge the leopard. A brave man. The leopard could easily have turned and attacked the driver through the open door.
After much shouting, throwing of objects and attempts to dislodge the animal by using the car, the guide reversed his vehicle and the leopard released him. Enraged, the animal continued with its attack, trying to climb up on the bonnet of the car and cause more havoc.
In desperation, the guide drove over the animal’s rear section, putting it out of action long enough for all to escape. The leopard moved back into the bush.
Rangers then came to the location and after examining the leopard, euthanized it. NOT because of the attack, but because the animal was in terrible condition and was obviously suffering badly.
It appeared that the animal had been in a fight, probably with another leopard and had been severely injured, so badly that it was unable to hunt.
The behaviour was totally uncharacteristic of leopard.
So why has the ranger/guide been showered with so much abuse? Why all the calls for him to be fired? Why all the calls to ban open vehicles? Why the calls to close the reserve?
Because the armchair warriors all know best, that’s why. All the people who have probably never had the pleasure of travelling through African wilderness areas and who have no idea about life in the bush. They probably don’t even walk barefoot across their own lawns, let alone go for a walk in the rain!
At any given moment during the day, in East, Central and Southern Africa, there are probably thousands of open viewing vehicles travelling slowly thought the bush observing and photographing our spectacular wildlife. None of them have been attacked. Ever.
We had six open vehicles at Nokuthula, traveling regularly through big-five country. The only encounter we ever experienced were cheetah jumping onto the bonnet to use the car as a really useful mobile vantage point. At no time were they considered to be a threat to our human cargo.
Now examine the leopard. In the one photo of it lying on its side, it is so thin that it could easily be mistaken for a cheetah.
It is obviously in desperately bad condition. The fact that it was euthanized is a blessing for this particular animal. The unwritten rule of the bush is to let nature take its course, but who in their right mind could allow an animal in such dreadful and probably painful condition to die a truly horrific death as it starved slowly to death.
There’s altogether too much sensationalism on social media.
People make inane comments without thinking the situation through.
And all the others follow, each trying to outdo the other with comments that are blatant untruths and which offer ridiculous ‘solutions’.
And just for your information, the ranger is doing fine, not that anyone asked after him, but I thought you might like to know.
And the vets and support staff shed a tear or two at the terrible suffering this poor animal had to go through before being mercifully put out of its misery.
This is not a zoo. There are no cages. There are no tame animals. Game vehicles and the wildlife co-exist, neither harming the other. This has been the status-quo for many many years without incident, yet one isolated attack of this nature immediately brings down a torrent of invective.
Please think things through before you all shout, scream and perform about man’s inhumanity.
It wasn’t the case at all.
Tales from the African Bush 
Reblogged this on theoverberg.
The thing that you forgot to say is that there was a “Tourist” in his/her Silver Hyundai Van that drove over the poor leopard as well, long after the Tour Guide drove away. Nice little side step you gave by saying “In desperation, the guide drove over the animal’s rear section, putting it out of action long enough for all to escape. The leopard moved back into the bush” Please re-look at the video footage and then report on the truth. That person in the Hyundai Van had no right to drive over the poor leopard as well.
It’s like you and I haven’t seen the same video. How often do you go to the park? Do you think the leopard would just lie down and submit if it wasn’t hurt? And if it was hurt, do you think it nice to just leave it that way? Explain yourself.
It was savagely attacking a person. Can you please not refer to it as “the poor leopard” you pathetic bleeding heart twit.
Pathetic is beyond your apprehension, Brinker.
Why the hell are open safari vans allowed in these parks ??
Every time the animal is the one put down where it is supposedly in a protected environment.
You idiots want sensationalism with exposing tourists to attacks just to get the “on the edge” limelight.
You want me to say the poor ignorant Brit ??
Wake up before you make a fool of yourself.
And just for the record I was born and worked in the Namibian bush for years.
You’re not talking to some computer junkie here.
The people are in the animals habitat. Same with any attack from a wild animal! its a wild animal and you are in its territory. You would also protect yourself from someone who enters your home if you have the fight instinct.
I agree with Chris and Amy! It is supposed to be a protected environment for thoses animals! And it is not!
I wonder what you would do if you were put in the same situation as the driver. Try to talk the “poor leopard” out of its instinctive bloodlust?
“The poor leopard” Oh god, get a clue you suburbanite nitwit.
Please refrain from insulting attacks on other commenters. It’s not necessary. If it continues, your comments will be deleted. Please keep it clean and keep commenting.
absolutely right Samantha
Samantha Kapeller I am in total agreement with you. . . .
Amen – and the screeching of some women that it MUST be run over! Vile attitude – had the game ranger had the space he would not have had to crush it; And from EXPERIENCE in Africa, I can say game ranger is South Africa put us in MORTAL DANGER a few times…they are not all universally well-trained…I shall reserve judgement on his training – but he was in my view of LIVING in Africa for 20 years and having done over 40 game drives – woefully inadequate; he crowded the animal, allowed too many cars to converge and it felt under siege – I raised a leopard from cub to 16 years – they ARE NEVER TAME – but they manageable; I have also been bitten by a leaopard – yes it is terrifying but I would never have crushed him under a car! What I learned is you never let one get behind you or in a place where you cannot see them – and if his crotch isn’t in tatters, then his arm was hanging outside the window. IDIOT.
Clearly your comments live up to your name – pity you hide behind a pseudonym but a well-chosen one nevertheless. 40 game drives in 20 years …. clearly you have not been around much.
Might I respectfully suggest you read my eye witness account of what happened to get the facts straight – He was not crowding the animal at all and there was nobody behind him. He had just arrived at the sighting and was patiently waiting his turn in the queue. We all thought the leopard was about 50m in front of his vehicle and then it suddenly appeared in front of his vehicle having moved along the river in the bushes out of all of our lines of site. The leopard was never behind him and approached him from the front. His arm was not hanging out of the window but was there solely because he had wrested the animal out of his vehicle and the leopard had bitten his arm and was still hanging on to it – at which time the video starts.
Regarding crushing the leopard with the car.. what would you have done in the circumstances with 8 or so guests in the car, no way to escape the attacking leopard?
Furthermore, there is another video showing the same leopard jumping up at another vehicle on an earlier posting which you have neglected to look at …..
Douglas, I so appreciate your objective views as an actual eye-witness. Many do not like that I am standing up for the guide/ranger. Actually I am not. I am standing up for objectivity and a desire to see our dear South Africans slower to judge a situation based on their limited understanding, knowledge and experience. Some of the guides have actually irritated the hell out of me in the past.
These kinds of situations happen and whoever is involved, whether one of these open vehicle guides or one of us in our own vehicles will have to make snap decisions. And afterwards the ‘keyboard rangers’ will all tell you how you should have done it, and even tell the poor animal how he should have responded. After more than 900 days of my life touring up and down the roads of Kruger from North to South I have never seen a wild animal in Kruger attack any human. When this happens, it will 10 to 1 be a first for whoever, and wow, who are any of us to judge, as if we all have first hand experience?
Some of the comments that made me laugh.
-Don’t stop too close – sadly animals never obey that rule. They simply appear close to your vehicle without your permission.
– Fire a warning shot – any Kruger visitors will know that the rangers/guides representing external operators do not carry guns.
– Poke the leopard in his sensitive spot – yet no explanation where that is. Would help all of us for future reference.
– No tourists should be allowed in animal territory – so we guess that all the non tourists would fund conservation.
– Nobody should be allowed to use their own cars, all should be driven around by Kruger Rangers – without wanting to insult those who take us on game drives – they are also nothing but guides. The actual rangers are out in the bush doing game ranging. This is financially and organisationally impossible, and will make Kruger a very unpleasant place as every tourist will have there own desires.
Brandamedblonde – so on the basis of a hand reared leopard of 16 years, you want to conclude that wild leopards are manageable when they attack? You confuse me, as somebody with so much experience would never imply that in the first place. So based on your personal experience, please enlighten us how you would have got rid of this leopard holding onto his arm, who had one motive and that was to attack and kill as evidenced from the two videos.
You need to be careful before you call somebody an IDIOT. Let’s put you in the exact same predicament and see how you respond. Yours like many others are sweeping statements without clear thought.
Thank you for standing up for the guide, I just read and shook my head in disbelieve. I am sad for the leopard, at least he is not suffering anymore. I am glad the guide is fine, do hope he will be up and about soon. People should listen and learn, when you are out in the wild, you abide by the rules of the wild.
The driver did make one and a serious mistake, he kept on looking the animal in its eyes while he backed away a challenge and as it was already angry because it was in a fight it picked this up and attacked. He should of looked at him in a non aggressive way, but still watching him carefully Also there were too many cars around that could of contributed to the poor beast. Many know that Leopards are the most dangerous predictors of all the cats and can attack even if not provoked in anyway. Pity it was put down and not relocated to a place where t could recover and forget the incident.
And one more thing the driver did have the side of his arm resting on the edge of the open vehicle an easy target that was all he was so the animal vented his anger towards him.
What wild animals have you looked in the eye and made them attack you? Dogs maybe?…strange I have never had a problem looking into wild animals eyes….ever.
Leopard are known to dislike direct eye-contact. They will usually fade away into the bush when confronted like that. They really don’t care for it at all.
You haven’t looked close enough….ever…..
Tb is not something u recover from. Its a horrible disease and this animal would have starved to death or be killed by another predator. He was estimated to be around 29 years old… its only a blessing that he was euthenazed..
What have you been smoking?
19*
Why would u ask that francois?
It has been affirmed that the cat had TB as well.
I published an update yesterday giving preliminary necropsy findings. Infected with Bovine TB. No sign of rabies.
Having had TB 8 years ago. I agree with your statement. Unfortunately 8 years later I am still dealing with the after effects of the TB virus.
This is a terribly sad story, but knowing the facts and the suffering of the animal, people should realise what happened was possibly the only solution. Having lived in the African bush for some years, nature can be very cruel, they are not cuddly toys or pets.
I agree fully with Samantha on this issue!
This was such a tragic accident and I will not criticise as I do not know what I would have done is this situation. However, to be more accurate, on seeing the video of the incident, the tour guide drove over the animal twice and then another vehicle drove over the cat a third time, the animal was severely damaged by this and could not walk anymore as he dragging his back legs behind him as he pulled himself back into the bush, rangers had no choice but to put him out of his misery!
The ranger could have avoided this incident if he had just put up his window, this should be a standard practice with a large cat being so close to the vehicle.
the animal was dying slowly and painfully of TB Siobain prior to the injury by the cars. If the KNP had found it earlier before this incident I would be stunned if they had not taken the prompt decision to shoot asap – it was behaving as a rabid animal would/highly dangerous, it was not treatable and it would likely have infected other animals with tb
@siobain….
You’ve clearly never been on a game drive!!
The game viewing vehicles do not have any windows!!!
I have done almost 7000 game drives as a ranger in an open vehicle and never had any incident like this!
Do yourself a favour,book a game drive somewhere and then stop whining!
Seeing as we are being factual, Rangers do not drive visitors around, the guide in question works for a private safari company and therefore has nothing to do with conservation etc of the KNP, they are as a business purely there for profit, as a regular visitor to KNP (35 nights in 2014 and 16 YTD) the majority of private guides are notorious for breaking the rules by driving off roads and pushing in front of other vehicles or banging on their doors etc to get a reaction or change of position of the animal just so their guests can get better pictures and therefore better tips, and if the guide was so law abiding why was his arms hanging out the window for the leopard to grad in the first place?
At Nokuthula, our rangers accompanied the clients. We operated on a rotation basis, two weeks with clients, two weeks in the bush doing “ranger stuff”.
Its always too easy to pass judgement on situations. Know one knows what your reaction may be when faced with a life and death situation. He not only had hos life at stake but the safety of his guests as well. Wishing him a speedy recovery. I too love animals but know the dangers of animals behaving out of character. Sad that it had to
end the way it did.
Well written and informative article. @ Samantha above – who knows what you would have done at that critical moment. I feel for the Leopard as well but would Samantha have sat in her vehicle and just watched the proceedings. I know I certainly would have done whatever possible to save the Ranger’s life.
That leopard was old and in bad condition. If he hadn’t been hit by the car then maybe he wouldn’t have had to be put down but in that situation it was the kindest thing to do. The guides reaction measures were the right thing to do, even though it meant running over the animal, I’m pretty sure he knew that, but note the physical state of the leopard afterwards…He was fine. The silver car however, took things a little too far. I do feel sorry for the leopard ,who wouldn’t? In the video it does not show how the leopard and the guide got into this predicament. Did the leopard jump at the window to get hold of him or did he put a part of his body outside the vehicle? So until someone can give us the whole story step by step, there should not be judgement passed on the guide or on the leopard. As a regular Kruger visitor I ask the question what happened between spotting the leopard and the leopard getting hold of the guide?
Jen a very astute response…I agree
Hi Everyone – I witnessed this unfortunate incident and there are some factual matters that need to cleared up for everyone to make a balanced decision. The guide’s actions have been, in my view, totally mis-reported and he should in fact be given all the praise he deserves for saving the lives of his guests.
Here’s how it happened.
1. Before the video started rolling, the leopard walked across the road (from the passenger side) in front of the landrover that was parked viewing it. Without any provocation at all, it suddenly jumped right into the front of the vehicle without even touching the bonnet. Can you imagine the shock of this happening? There was, as one can imagine, complete chaos in the vehicle.
2. The guide wrestled the animal out of the vehicle saving both himself and his guests from a certain mauling in the very least in what I believe to be a very courageous manner.
3. However, when the guide tried to get the leopard out of the vehicle, it bit onto his arm and would not let go – at which time the video started to roll……hence the mis-interpretation of the events.
4. At no stage at all was the guide “hanging his arm out of the vehicle” to “attract the leopard” as it would not have been able to see his arm because it approached the vehicle from the passenger side across the front at which point it jumped into the vehicle.
5. Once he had been assisted by the visitor in the Hyundai to get the leopard to release his arm he immediately reversed his vehicle away from the dangerous situation as we all can see in the video to take both himself and his guests away. All of this with a badly injured arm and a leopard chasing him.
6. Unfortunately, once he got to the top of the hill, his path backwards was blocked by an approaching vehicle.
7. Knowing his path both forwards (as we were all parked on the narrow road ahead of him blocking that exit) and backwards was blocked, with the leopard attacking them he had no choice but to try and stop the leopard by any means possible, which he duly did. Had he been on a walking safari with a rifle I would assume the guide would have had no choice to shoot the animal to save his guests and himself.
8. The Hyuandai driver who drove also over the leopard obviously applied his mind to the situation correctly if one considers that the leopard could well have gone back down the road and attacked the vehicle and its occupants again.
Sadly, the cause of this incident should probably be attributed to all of us who visit Game Parks such as this. Through our actions and eagerness to see the animals, we put them under undue stress.
Perhaps we need to be more thoughtful and respectful of the animals’ space when we visit these places to prevent such incidents occurring?
Thank you, Douglas, for giving us an up close and personal account. Much appreciated.
Here is a link to video on youtube shot in the same area an hour before the incident showing the state of mind of the leopard….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc4L8NKW9o0
Finally someone talking sense… The guide tried to move away even after the first attack, one must also remember a guide is a registered person that needs to protect his client as stated under LEMA 7 of 2003 (Limpopo environmental management Act), What the guide did was 100% correct. The silver car that also ran over the animal – well would your prefer the animal to suffer even more or have the opportunity of killing the tracker/ranger that must track it down? surely this guy wanted to run the Leopard over to try and end the suffering of injuries sustained during this ordeal, its not always an easy decision to make but one would think this guy tried to end the life of the injured animal to minimize its suffering but also to protect human life…
Yes agree Kosie but bunny huggers will never accept this they wanted the animal rescued and saved…
Thank you for your factual, and thought provoking response. This must have been horrible on all levels to have witnessed.
At last an accurate account of what happened that awful day. Thank you Douglas, hopefully people will put it to rest now.
Thank you for the background info. To back up your argument – see my previous post – the same leopard tried to jump the passenger side of my manager’s jeep – ‘windows closed / no arms hanging out’ – very desperate leopard indeed.
Thank you for that Douglas, nice to hear the story from someone who was actually there to witness it.
Thanks for that eyewitness account. I am sure you have already provided Sanparks with these details to assist in their investigation, but, if you have by any chance missed it, they are desperately seeking eye witnesses and as if yesterday, had had no response.
Hi Douglas, sanparks are appealing for witnesses, so they can understand what lead up to the start of the video. If you havent been in touch already could you contact joep.stevens@sanparks.org please!
Sent the details to Joep so he has the info.
Thank you so much, Douglas, for taking the time to get in touch with the authorities. You’re a star.
Thank you for this! Pity that so many armchair safari experts will not read your comment before they jump to add theirs.
I agree.
Your description of the incident is clear and a lot of it does make sense, but the thing that makes the most sense to me is the undue stress that is placed on the animals with so many tourists gathering round and boxing in the animals, especially one that is hurt or ill, surely? I still think this whole unfortunate event could have been avoided, or dealt with in another fashion? I also think that a vast majority of tourists think that animals in a park are tame. A wild animal deserves a lot of respect and they deserve to be left as untampered with as possible. They should be allowed a greater distance between them and the car, but that is up to the driver to enforce that, not the animal. My cents worth.
Ingrid said: “A wild animal deserves a lot of respect and they deserve to be left as untampered with as possible. They should be allowed a greater distance between them and the car”
Kruger Park is larger than the state of Rhode Island – vehicles are allowed ONLY on designated roads. Any wild animal on or near one of the roads is there by choice, NOT because it can’t get away.
I totally agree with you, thoses animals should not be around vehicules and people. The park is their home and having thoses vehicules with tourists is not a good idea.
KNP needs witnesses and have asked eyewitness reports to be sent to joep.stevens@sanparks.org
well said
Samantha full agree with you
Thank you for giving the facts. The people giving comments from their safe environment forget it’s all about survival at that moment. I wonder what they would have done? Scream like a girl and then sue the park after their traumatic experience?
Monica wrote: “I wonder what they would have done? Scream like a girl and then sue the park after their traumatic experience?”
Answer: Only if they are Americans ; )
I too am glad that the rules of the wild are all as they should be. Unfortunately a lot of ‘holier than thou’ armchair critics who think they know better, and who think they can do better never ever will and will always pass judgment. Unfortunately there are an awful lot of folk who think it is completely normal for a leopard to attack a human. Perhaps they should be made to study various species of the Leo family and be made to write a very in depth exam that only carries a 95% or higher, pass rate. How many of them will fail? Probably all! Glad no one lost their jobs over armchair demands and happy the guide is doing well!
Fantastic eyewitness report confirms what seemed clear. However I think its fair to add that a ‘rabid’ and/or injured/diseased leopard’s aggression and behaviour is out of the norm and normally leopard in this area do not even look at a vehicle such is their disinterest and lack of fear of vehicles -they are so habituated.
In short, the guide should be commended. Enough said.
Eish
Some people really are exactly what the author said they were.
It is a well written article, well thought out, and SPOT on! Years ago in Punda Maria an old leopard who could not hunt well anymore and was in poorly condition took out a guard at night. Old animals, who are hungry do things out of character. Nobody made a peep about that!
I hope the ranger in question is recovering well. He’ll have a story to tell his kids!
Spot on. Thanks for sharing.
Why are visitors to any game park instructed never to even open a window, yet the “game rangers” drive open vehicles? This is just another case of showing that those “highly dedicated and knowledgeable game rangers” are actually as stupid as the foreigners who visit these parks and then try to pat a lion on the head.
To kill an animal for being an animal is absolutely ridiculous. Rules for visitors should apply for everybody, even those “highly dedicated knowledgable game rangers” who are mad enough to go swimming in the middle of the night with crocodiles.
Please read my other two blogs about open vehicles and the attack update.
This is no place for advertising yourself…. These your operator guides are cowboys and it amazes me how this kind of thing doesn’t happen more often… I experienced this once in the chobe national park where open game drives competed with each other for best position to view lions walking from a watering hole through and around the vehicles. Not only did they frighten these lions by moving their vehicles constantly backwards and forwards but put themselves and their clients very close to the now aggravated lions…. So no don’t preach to us about innocent guides… The best guides/rangers are SANparks.
Ian Hampshire – I have not at any time been advertising myself. In fact, I doubt if any of the 48,000 views of this blog have any idea as to who or what I am. I am not allied to KNP, have no knowledge of who the guide is or the company he works for. I was simply annoyed at the armchair-warrior brigade spreading so much dissension all over social media. If you want to accuse me of things I am not guilty of, send me an email and let’s discuss it.
Because the guides have been educated in animal behavior. They are trained to read a situation and animal actions/reactions. If you read anything about this, you would know he wasn’t riding around with his arm out the window. The photos are of when he threw the cat out of the vehicle, but it was hanging onto his arm. The guide tried to back out of the situation, but vehicles were in his way, rather than moving like they should have. A photo op is worth much more than a person’s safety apparently. These are the same people that slow down to view a car wreck!
They killed the animal because it was sick and starving. Would you rather see its last days drag out, starving to death slowly? It looks like it hadn’t had a meal in forever. Although it would probably be killed by lions when it got so weak it couldn’t defend itself. The people that run those lion parks are a totally different kind of beast. Those cats are hand-raised and fed, and have no natural fear of humans. That should most definitely be outlawed as it is just wrong, and cruel to the cats, just like ride-an-elephant…wrong.
Vicky agree completely!
First I am glad the guide is doing well. Bravo for him for putting up the brave fight. It is horribly sad that this old starving leopard was so stressed by the fight and so many vehicles. I knew something was bad off with it when it chased and attacked the vehicle. That was just not right. I am happy he was put out of his misery, rather than dying a slow lingering death by starvation.
It is wonderful to hear you put all these armchair ‘expert guides’ in their place, although I am sure it won’t stop them from carrying on. They all angered me to no end, and I am by no means an animal expert. From what I do know as an avid animal lover, is that they did not know of what they spoke.
What I wish to come of this, is guide-only tours in KNP; none of this self-drive. An expert on animal behavior is necessary in so many occasions, both for human and animal safety. An excess of cars and people that don’t obey rules cause undue stress. Healing prayers for the guide, and sad thoughts for the leopard.
I hear what everybody is saying – but I’ve read a few things in various “reports/articles” and I would like to mention it…
1. Apparently “the guide was trying to herd the leopard for the benefit of his quests, for clearer view.” Is it just me – or did I see the word “herd”? I am a frequent visitor to the park and I’m sure I wouldn’t be alone when I say; what some of those safari guides do “for clearer view” and “HERDING”…
2. “According to eye witnesses, the guide was with about eight tourists on his vehicle and watching the leopard some two metres from it. The animal cunningly disappeared, probably went around the guide’s side while the group was still searching for it.”
The guide is 2 metres from the leopard but then it “cunningly disappeared”… How do you lose sight/track of an animal that’s 2 metres from your vehicle? AND WHY IS HE 2 METRES FROM THE LEOPARD!!? IN AN OPEN VEHICLE!!? I’m sorry – but this is THE most important lesson to be learned here. The guide should have known better… (Refer to point nr 1…)
3. The guide apparently applied the brakes because he saw that the reverse exit was blocked by another car… The video I’ve been watching shows that car about 20-30 metres still behind him… Surely he could have reversed a bit further… What if it was an elephant chasing him? Would he have “slammed/applied” the brakes too? No – he would keep on reversing until the other car/s would realize there’s danger/trouble ahead and also get out of harm’s way…
4. The silver car… According to me that’s just wrong – you simply get out of the way – you don’t drive/run over ANY animal – whatever the situation… WE are the VISITORS not the animals… And if point number 1 and 2 was respected and adhered – point nr 4 wouldn’t exist…
The point is – this could have been TOTALLY avoided. Don’t get too close to any of the animals – ESPECIALLY IF THEY APPEARED TO BE INJURED… OR STARVING…. OR HUNGRY…!
Willem, in your first comment you say ‘apparently’ and in your second comment you are emphatic that this could have been avoided. That is your opinion. Who says he herded the leopard. I have spoken to people who were on the scene and they described everything as normal. Don’t always believe newspaper reports. Here is a video of the same leopard an hour before the time.
Watch and learn. It is so easy to judge a situation that you were not in with hindsight and then pretend that you would have acted accordingly. It is fine to say, don’t get too close to the animals, but the video of the same leopard posted above will show you that animals don’t follow that rule. Should everybody start speeding away when a leopard or lion approaches you while parked between many cars? This is a unusual situation and we need to relax, and not second guess the guides behaviour. Nothing will change what he did. He needs a medal for keeping his tourists safe.
Wow Nicky, you’re a real warrior for this guide… Family or what? This video from an hour before shows that same Hyundai van in front of this jeep that this very sad looking leopard tries to jump into…. Clearly the Hyundai driver would seen this previous strange behavior and thought to warn the ranger sitting in his open vehicle…. Or did he just wait in horror fascination? For me the ranger is forgiven, although I have experienced some really bad rangers before who are absolute cowboys! Go to chobe national park and you’ll see what I’m talking about…. So the big issue here is the Hyundai! There was no excuse for him or her to take it further by driving over the leopard again, I don’t care how you look at it but it is just not right! You’ve spent a lot of energy putting people right in this long chain of comments so let me put you right… Support the ranger by all means but don’t for a minute support that fool in the Hyundai, that goes against the grain of respecting wild life completely!!
Well said Willem
“This video from an hour before shows that same Hyundai van in front of this jeep that this very sad looking leopard tries to jump into….”
Urg please – In the video Nicki posted (which was my original upload) it was not the SAME people / driver of the Hyundai van that drove over the leopard!
It was taken an HOUR before the second incident occurred – I was just joking with my manager this morning- asking if it was him who drove over the leopard and he said NO! Especially in a car full of children – and my manager being an environmentalist – he would not have drove over the leopard. In fact, he just said driving over the leopard the second time – by the OTHER Hyundai driver was completely unnecessary.
Ian – your assumptions and attack on Nicki (and I have no idea who she is) makes you look like another armchair warrior / troll on the net.
Ian, no relation of mine, sory to disappoint you. I simply go for ‘objectivity’ and hate it when anybody is judged and ridiculed without all the facts at one’s disposal. So, I have no subjectivity in this case except for having spoken to eye witnesses on the scene, who have made their own comments here. But, as a regular visitor to Kruger who has spent at least 900 days over the years in Kruger, I might just be slightly more objective than you regarding animal behaviour and that of visitors to the park. I have had my fair share of lions and leopards all around my car over the years, and based on my little bit of knowledge gathered over 900 days I believe this leopard and this whole situation was out of sorts and all our cleverness will change nothing for now or the future. The leopard did what it did, and the ranger did what he did. He needs to be applauded for keeping his people safe. If this leopard was healthy the situation would have looked far worse, but then a healthy leopard would probably not have attacked.
Remember, ‘hindsight is an exact science’ and none had it. They were in the movie and not watching it and reading all the comments to come to ensure that they respond exactly according to the opinions of all ‘the keyboard rangers’.
Ian, also. Can you please provide me evidence that the same Hyundai as with the second video was present as with the first video. I see no evidence of that. It proves exactly the reason I am calling fro objectivity here. You see a Hyundai badge on a steering and immediately jump to conclusions that it is the same people as an hour earlier. Or am I missing something here?
Agree completly with you, The animals are supposed to be at home, and they are not!
This very same leopard tried to attack my manager and his family, an hour before this incident occurred. My manager was on holiday with his family and the very same leopard circled their jeep and tried to jump at the passenger window (windows were closed). They did not know about the reported incident until they came back from holiday.
This is the youtube recording of my manager’s incident:
From what my manager observed about the leopard – it was very weak / frail…and very opportunistic. ‘Tourists’ seemed like easy prey compared to what ever else is out there in Kruger (i.e. prey not running away at Springbok speed or extremely slow moving but well defended such as a porcupine).
I was all ‘team leopard’ until I realised how much this animal was suffering. The writer for this article is spot on about the leopard was acting out of character. If it was not my manager and his family, or the tour driver it would have been another tourist that the leopard would have went for.
wow…helpful footage
There are just too many vehicules around! for god sake!
So Suzanne, when an animal appears you want all the vehicles to speed away, or do you want to sell tickets and only so many vehicles will be allowed at a sighting. Just don’t forget the popcorn. This is Kruger Suzanne, tourism funds Kruger, tourism inspires a love for the bush which means more investment in conservation. This was a 1 in a million situation. Live with it, you would not have done better.
Leopards are listed as endangered. End of story.
Inhumane is driving over the poor already suffering animal. Guides are surely trained and are supposed to have other methods? I am glad everyone is safe. I would have preferred he shot the animal.
With what Sensationalist. Obviously you don’t know Kruger. THEY DO NOT CARRY GUNS. So, what other method should he have followed, maybe on purpose colliding with another vehicle, with the prospect of injuries to others. They could not do a medical examination before riding over the leopard. The leopard is attacking and you need to respond quickly. You have no articles to dissect and photos and videos to view before making a decision. You are in the movie and need to think quickly.
They are in their territory!! Leave them alone
Thank you for your brief explanation. The same people crusifying the guide and the rules of Sanparks, are most propably the same people hanging out of their cars and open windows and getting out of their cars at any “cat”sight. Crazy to think they remember all the rules just when they can participate into critisizm. You were not there and I wonder how you would have handled this matter? I believe that the steps taken was the best for the current situation and under the quick and traumatic incidense that happened with the leopard, guide and guests. Please, let everyone first think before you outrage your anger and fear without thinking what words you are using.+
I’m sorry if you want to write an article with the purpose of sounding very calm and mature and objective about the situation, stating “let’s examine things in detail” then get all your facts straight and stop only repeating what everyone else have been saying. The animal was not just driven over once but multiple times and we all know that the truth of the situation, it being in the public eye, of coarse they are going to say that the animal was badly injured before it was driven over! Seriously! We will never know the truth…So let’s all rather instead of trying to sound smart and mature look at the actual faults and admit that what we as human beings did to the poor animal was in fact wrong and cruel but also acknowledge that we panic when we are in shit and make mistakes and forgive the ranger. Any person and even child knows that if an animal is injured or old you stay the hell away from them….so let’s hope the ranger can at least say sorry and learn from this sad experience!
Darien, just for interest, what mistake did he make and how should he have handled it in your opinion? Please don’t provide a ‘prevention’ answer, but here he is with his arm stuck in the leopards mouth. What now? What faults must he admit, as there is no rule against stopping at a leopard sighting. Remember, he is the driver, and the leopard according to all reports was on the other side of the vehicle, and moved around and suddenly attacked. This makes it quite impossible for him to even make a proper evaluation. He does not know at that point that the animal is injured. “Hindsight is an exact science.” He did not have hindsight to deal with. I have spoken to a eye witness at the scene, and there is no evidence of any error on his side. He did his best and needs to be applauded instead of having to apologise.
Can all eyewitnesses please send their accounts/videos of the incident as well as the other unrelated incident to SanParks for their investigation, at present no one has come forward with this information and they have appealed to the public with any information to forward it to Joep Stevens.
The driver is a well trained tour guide and I have been to the park on multiple occasions, I have always seen the guides take a rifel or side arm to protect the routes as well as themselves. The driving over a animal is inhumain and straight up cruel. Yes you are scared but as a highly trained and meant to be respectful to nature at all cost one has to always remember that he should have given off a warning shot or hooted and made a noise as the animal is a farce animal yet very timid as they are always hiding from a hustle and bustle. You need to always take into consideration of the tourist as well as animals as this is not a zoo but a nature Park that reminds us that we have to always be on the look out.
Craig – If you have been to Kruger Park on numerous occasions as you claim you would never have seen an operator’s guide/ranger carrying a rifle or a side arm. It is against the law. The only rangers who carry guns are those who work for Sanparks. Nobody else is allowed to have any fire arm that is unsealed. No hooting and no warning shot will necessarily help either. These animals are not humans who reason that a shot is being fired. It all happened as it did, and all the retrospect comments and wisdom of all the ‘keyboard rangers’ serve no purpose now or in the future. Every event that could happen is unique.
Yes, you just said it! it is not a zoo!!!! But seems like it is to me
Suzanne, what makes it a zoo in your mind? The cars are on the road, the animals have millions of hectares of bush to walk in. Without tourists, Kruger is doomed and will become a piece of land with lot’s of villages, no trees and no animals.
Give that man a BELLS !!!
I used to be an honorary ranger before my work got too hectic. People judge easily and have quick reactions like the ranger should not have looked the animal in the eye or whatever. This happens in an instant, the ranger reacts the best he can in that moment. Have you tried formulating a logical thought with a leopard hanging on your arm? He had people to protect. This leopard was thin BEFORE the attack and acted completely out of character. There was obviously something wrong with it. Those who say the humans were in its territory, would you have the leopard munch a tourist and tell their loved ones “Sorry, we were in the animal’s territory”? As for the profit from such trips, wake up! Try conserving animals without money! Tourism is the reason this animal had a habitat. This leopard was not evil, it was acting the way animals sometimes act. The ranger was was not evil. He acted in an instinctive manner and would have been critcised whatever he chose to do, because we can’t face the fact that our relationship with wildlife has been compromised long ago and these reserves are managing that as well as they can. If we criticize, we can say that none of this is our fault.
I don’t know enough of the stats on how many times this has or hasn’t happened before. But now it has, so surely precautions should be taken. When something goes wrong, we try and implement something to make sure it doesn’t happen again. A country goes through a period of load shedding – so you create more power stations and make sure we don’t run out of power in the near future right??? Oh wait…
We were happy with open safari vehicles before. Why not introduce closed ones. If the vehicle was closed, surely this means that all involved are in a more safe and controlled situation? Leopard and people included.
It is mentioned that the leopard was injured from a previous attack and looked skinny from malnutrition. I am sure the fact that it was run over by a vehicle or two didn’t help it’s full figure. But i digress.
Can you blame the leopard? I hope in most peoples’ opinion the answer is no. You are in an area specifically designated for wild animals where people are supposed to view from the safety of their vehicles. The animal is a hunter, a killer, and importantly unpredictable.
Can you blame the guide/driver? Not really as he is given a job, given the tools of the trade (an open vehicle) and then told to make sure the paying customers see amazing game, but make sure no one dies. It is human nature to protect human life – yours and the others around you.
I strongly believe that game reserves and similar operations are necessary for the general public to see wildlife up close (and not just on the telly), so as to motivate for more conservation and less corporate destruction.
Rules are implemented to ensure the safety of the people and animals in the reserve. Surely new rules and regulations can be implemented to make sure a horrible accident like this never happens again. Well until an elephant rolls another CLOSED vehicle and then V@K weet.
WOW! FUCKING WOW!!!!!! To this point I have not watched the video or read any comments. I want to thank the publisher of this article.
Even after an expert opinion and bringing facts to light, there are still people making stupid comments. Love the branding “armchair warriors”. Very fitting. Not just to this article but to many. In a sport where bad reporting and poor commenting is a weekly issue, it is sad to see even after a well written article people behaving stupidly.
Brian, I do not enjoy social networks at all. I am a veteran jounalist with 38 years experience in the field of war, crisis, crime, politics, society and othher mishaps of humankind. And I am a tourist guide since 12 years. Hence, my grateful compliments for your article published on this website. Everthing is on the dot, nothing left out.
You seem to be committing the same errors you’re accusing everyone else of:
1. Sensationalism. If you’re going to accuse people of making sweeping statements for dramatic effect then don’t claim that there has never been an open vehicle attack by an animal ever. Despite this sounding ridiculous at face value, a simple YouTube or Google search will instantly squash that myth. Leopards are unpredictable animals, I know the rewards are greater for guide companies that get up close to such animals but this is just one instance (even if it is a rare instance) that proves that the exception may need to define the rule, upon further investigation. Not being an expert, myself, I would not like to suggest what needs to change but I do feel that incidents like this demand another look at the existing restriction in place. We’d do no less for a sport where a serious injury is concerned so I don’t see why it would be any different when people and animals’ lives are potentially at risk. As many have said, it’s the animal’s environment, not ours. Despite our technological advantages we are easy bate for just about any hungry or disturbed animal.
2. The part about driving over the animal’s hind quarters is very much a skipped over part of the article. Almost like the writer wants us to feel like it’s not important, when in reality its the second most important fact after the guide’s initial attack. From the video we can see that the first time was probably not deliberate, but whether something is deliberate or not does not absolve responsibility. To suggest that the guide was at no fault at all is fallacious, particularly if we look at the second time the animal was run over. That ‘previously injured’ leopard was clearly able to jump and run after the first time it was run over (surprisingly), but perhaps not so much the second time it was run over, which seemed entirely avoidable from the footage, as the guide had space to manoeuvre. I’m not sure you could accurately assess the damage done by ‘another leopard’ prior to that after running over the cat 3 times.
3. To say that euthanasia was the kind thing to do despite usually leaving nature to take its course, to rally sympathy, is a cheap tactic and easy to see through when one considers that this animal had been ridden over 3 times by various heavy man-made vehicles at that point! Nature taking its course was ruled out the moment that truck stopped to look at the leopard. We must also question the motives behind the silver van driving over the leopard. I can understand wanting to put himself in the way of the open vehicle whilst they escape but who in their right mind thinks that driving over the leopard is a responsible or ‘kind’ thing to do? Euthanasia was the ONLY course of action possible after what the animal endured.
If you’re going to claim that everyone on the internet has got it wrong but you are the bestower of truth, to something that has a publicly available video then please make sure you are true to the events seen in that video. I agree with you 100% about the problem with arm-chair critics but not everyone who wasn’t there is devoid of valid points, particularly when there is solid evidence on display. I realise that the situation wasn’t exactly conducive to clear judgement when the guide had the leopard’s jaws clamped around his arm but there are many faults with how it was handled and to suggest that this is an open and shut case with all humans involved being in the right and that leopard was just ‘looking for a fight,’ or words to that effect is just wishful. Point is, had all people involved been in enclosed vehicles with no access for the animal then this entire situation would have been avoided and that leopard would have been alive today. We can’t on the one hand blame tourists who get attacked through open windows (see last month’s Lion attack at the Lion Park) and on the other hand say “this never happens” when it involves an open vehicle. We have to look at the common point here, and that is that both vehicles allowed access to distressed predatory animals. Whether you like it or not this does require investigation and measures to avoid a repeat, particularly when it involves an endangered species. Wild animals will get hungry/angry, and when they do, they get unpredictable. We all know this. It is, as you say, what such guides are trained for. I’m not convinced that training was on full display that day.
The lions at the Lion Park are not wild – they are fed daily by humans from the back of a truck. They associate vehicles & humans with food. This is not the case with the truly wild animals in Kruger (although it is very clear to me that people ignore the rules and feed baboons from their cars – some stay near the road and obviously look for food from passing cars) so this leopard’s behavior is totally out of character – and as the early video makes clear, the animal is emaciated & unsteady on its feet before any contact with the open game vehicle or the gray mini-van. And even if the cat had not been injured by the vehicles it is doubtful that it would be alive today – if you followed the links in a previous post you would have read that the leopard was in the late stages of Bovine Tuberculosis, severely emaciated & dehydrated and would have either died from disease or been killed by lions or hyenas in a short period of time. The way the leopard jumped on the vehicle shows his weakness clearly – a healthy leopard can jump 8 feet with no apparent effort – this poor boy struggled to make the 3 foot leap.
Mel- exactly- I wish all would understand this. A later blog by an apparenty “experienced” guide also states the cat was euthanised due to the vehicle damage, completely bypassing the fact that the cat was nearly dead before the incident! People are exasperating! And the comparison of this with the lion park incident shows just such lack of understanding – these incidents really can’t be compared for the precise reasons that you say.
It would be nice to know why Kruger National Park’s William Mambasa lied to the media, saying that “it is suspected that the leopard was fighting with another one as its hind was badly injured.” His hind leg does not seem to be badly injured if he was able to jump into the vehicle. Why lie to the media and public about it Mr. Mambasa?
The injury supposition has neither been confirmed or denied. SanParks will clear that up in the report which I should have at the end of the week or early next week. I’ll publish the report in a new update blog.
Grunoysafrican – how can you call a statement ‘it is suspected’ a lie? That’s not fair. He did not say, that the leopard did, but it was suspected that it did based on reports. Also if you watch the video of the leopard attacking another vehicle an hour earlier you will clearly notice that it it’s hind leg was injured prior to this incident.
Hi Brian, While I appreciate your explanation I feel you made some real generalisations about us ‘armchair warriors who don’t even step onto our lawns barefoot’ that is really quite insulting. I also don’t understand your comment that ‘no open air vehicle has ever been attacked, ever!’ Really? I highly doubt it. Even if that really was the case then there is always a first time and then procedural changes need to be put into place to avoid future problems. Just because only 1, 10 or 100 animals get euthanised each year doesn’t make it ok, maybe us humans should just try to adapt a little more to live in balance with nature. Thanks
Re open viewing vehicles, Sean Stretch said ” there is always a first time and then procedural changes need to be put into place to avoid future problems.”
It is just that kind of “Nanny-State” thinking that destroys wonderful opportunities to experience life. By all means, lock yourself behind glass & breathe filtered air-conditioned air; but don’t ruin my chance to bask in the heat & scent of the African bush in the safety of my open game viewing vehicle.
Mel yes precisely! And whats this about 1-100 animals being euthanised? The cat was dying of TB…Euthanasia surely is a relief for an animal in such a state of no return. Or does Sean think it would be preferable to let it starve a bit longer then be taken out by another predator…to then spread TB to that animal and so on?
Oh, please. After seeing the videos/photos of safari vehicles blocking off migration paths of wildbeests next to river banks for photo ops, I am not giving them any benefit of the doubt. Human stupidity and the animal always pays it with his life.
And the Wildebeest migration goes through KNP you wingnut!
Why read the article if you think all guides are stupid!
You wouldnt survive a day in the bush!
Go back to your office job and stop contributing to “human stupidity” as you so stupidl report!
msomiafrica, Im not really impressed with your truthful report on this event. please stay with facts and do not put your own personal words into the story, else you are too being just one of those couch lazy people commenting from their home throne.
Not impressed with you at all.
Thanks for trying to educate the armchair warriors! ‘Media lynch’ has naturally appeared with the huge success of social media. It’s far easier to tell what one thinks hidden behind a screen than face to face. Just a comment that I’d like to add to your article, I believe that the leopard got euthanised for two legitimate reasons: (i) it was on the verge of becoming a man eater and (ii) it got deadly injured by an anthropogenic action – that was in this case linked to the first reason.
the reason for euthanasia yes precisely Antoine-well said.But bunny huggers think it could have been relocated/saved somehow…
What a bunch of pricks. You go on like the ranger did this on purpose. Yes, an extremely unfortunate incident, yes we are in the animals habitat BUT – if it was YOU or someone close to you, would you be going, “the poor animal”, don’t hurt it – why don’t you get real, an unfortunate incident and measures taken to “save the ranger” – yes, unfair but tell me you would have done it differently when faced with a leopard hanging from your arm !!! Sure criticize, why not list your jobs, list your contributions to nature and we can all unpack it until finding a fault of yours. Grow up and take it for what it is, a very unfortunate incident, especially for the leopard.
Social media is what it is and is used extensively by individuals to express their emotions in whatever manner they see fit. I personally use this forum to express my own ’causes’ I treat it as my own personal ‘channel’. Tune in, tune out. Your choice. Reply, don’t reply. Your choice. When anything is misreported like this unfortunate incident, I share it. In this case I shared it ‘blind’ without the background story. I shall post this story as a rebuttal to my ‘share group’.
Rangers have a way…irrespective of how experienced they are…to believe they have connected with the animals they work with. My ex did a television series in the bush, and the rangers took us to the extreme. We didn’t ask to be taken there! I experienced too many up close and personal encounters with wildlife, that shouldn’t have happened….All whilst reassuring us that that they as Rangers knew the animals. Wild life is just that! Wild Life! Never second guess that!
Instead of generalising stupidly based only on your experience, why don’t you read the part where it explains how the guide had to wrestle the leopard after it had jumped into the vehicle? This guide saved the lives of his clients because of what he did.
Sorry to say but I work on reserves and the last time I was in kruger park a year ago I noticed that the rangers that drive the around with game viewer vehicles are arrogant and have no respect for other vehicles or animals on the reserve and it’s all about the tip. So the ranger deserved to be attacked for not having a window in his door. All rangers I know carry a weapon incase something like this happens. After watching the video that H1 driver had no reason to drive over the leapord and should be charged because the game viewer vehicle was in the clear. So no the leapord was not in fault and doing what is instinct
Ronald, what reserves in what country do you work on that the game drive vehicles have windows??? Also, as has been pointed elsewhere, weapons are prohibited in Kruger Park.
Ronald, it is not against the law to have your windows open in Kruger. It is as simple as that. What reserves do you work on? If you have any knowledge you would know that this was a unique situation, and in spite of 1000’s of these vehicles being around on a daily basis in reserves, this was an unusual event with unusual decisions needed to be taken unusually quickly.
No ranger in Kruger that does not work for Kruger carries a weapon. So, obviously all rangers you know is extremely limited. You talk rubbish, sorry to say that. So when a leopard attacks according to instinct you are implying that the ranger/guides instinct for self protection is not allowed to kick in. Remember that one day when a pit bull attacks you. “Okay pitty, kill me, you are only acting on instinct, I don’t want to harm you, that will be unkind’. That is clearly what you imply.
I don’t know the story, what, where, how, when… BUT.. I did see this particular part posted on Facebook… So decided to see what the commotion was about. I have also seen some of the comments and yes… Some of the comments are just so so very silly and do indeed beg for a slap… I’m sorry, just saying how it is… Wake up and yes, put yourself in the guides shoes… Would you beg and speak nicely, or would you have done the same thing or worse? I must say, there are so many people out there who … Go off their rocker about animals is the best way I can describe it.. And yes, most probably don’t know the first thing about them or the situation! It is essentially “the wild”… And in reality, us people, are animals too and should be living side by side with mother nature and not in concrete jungles! I do however have a problem with people allowing the killing of wild animals for ” population control”… But then people say it is inhumane to kill off stray dogs which are hugely over populated! Only because they are considered to be “domestic” animals… What fewee! Or on the other hand.. People are hugely hugely over populated so would it be considered OK to kill off all of our old and sickly? Never the less, I’m going off topic here…. The point is… Wake up people! It is nature and nature will be nature.. We are a part of nature! Closing yourself off from nature is not the answer! Living in harmony with nature and understanding how everything works, including yourselves is the answer! The guide did the best that he knew how at the time! Thank goodness that he was alright and that all of his clients were too! It is a pitty and very sad about the leopard but that’s how it goes some times… It’s nature! That beautiful leopard was lucky to have been put down or would have truely suffered and died terribly! On another note, the people who had seen this animal an hour before and it had tried to atack then, honestly should have warned someone because that was not normal and was plain to see that there was something wrong… Never the less.. The guide did nothing wrong and knore did the leopard.. All part of being a guide who was very brave and al part of being the leopard who was starving and just trying to survive! That’s my five cense.. I am glad the guide is well and all of the client’s safe and I am happy for the leopard who is in a much better place now xxx
Here is a link to the official report from Sanparks regarding the incident.
http://africageographic.com/blog/kruger-leopard-attack-no-fault-of-guide/
Douglas. I answered some Keyboard Rangers on another News24 group and in spite of the report that agrees with all I said, I was still attacked with insults, and being accused that I do not know what I am talking about. It is amazing how our society will be driven by emotion and allow all reason to leave the backdoor. I guess we have to live with these emotional outbursts and this attitude where people judge situations that they are far removed of. Thanks for your posting. Greet your wife for me. Spoke to her on FB.
I have had the same situation, Nicki. Loads of really nasty comments from what I refer to as “Armchair Warriors” but I really like your “Keyboard Rangers” description.
The irony msomiafrica is that we are accused of not caring about the wild. Yet wildlife and it’s protection is my passion. I live for my wildlife photography. I do not visit zoos, I spend all my free time in the bush. I invest financially in Rhino poaching.
And then you visit the FB pages of the Keyboard Rangers and they are city bound and no indication of any real love or participation in the bush. The closest is their Kitty and doggy at home driving their emotion. Sadly they think that Nat Geo is the first and last word on conservation and an understanding of the bush. My real issue is that we must not judge a situation that we were not in with the venom and accusations that were displayed on the various groups. Rather ask questions and get wise.
I provided some answers to the best of my knowledge and you are accused of being arrogant. But their views of that which they have no clue of with all the insults and accusations as if fact, is done in humility. I think out of this incident I have learnt more about man, than how to resolved what happened here and how to prevent it for the future.
Thanks for posting your original comments. It was much needed. Hope to meet you one day!!
Lol Marcie. I know what it sounds like. I invest in the fight against Rhino Poachers!!
Thank you for your honest and direct response to this incident. We unfortunately have so many “professional” opinions from people who are behind the desk shouting instructions and commands, but have had no, or a little experience in the bush, let alone on a safari, but have the correct answer to everything. I had an argument with a “professor” from some university in America some years ago about the poaching of Rhino in SA……….. I told him to get off his back side and see for himself in reality and to stop assuming and listening to the nonsense the media is telling……. We are to stop assuming and find out the facts before jumping to conclusions!!!