STEELPOORT – A family outing turned into a horrific nightmare when local Ms Tanya Laubscher-Swanepoel was viciously attacked by a “tame” cheetah at Mbidi Lodge near Loskop Dam.
The incident happened on Sunday when Laubscher-Swanepoel and her three sons, Rian (8), Marius (6) and Armand (3) visited the lodge. Here visitors can pet Romeo and Juliet, near-tame cheetahs. Visitors can be taken into their camp after they have signed a consent form regarding this one-on-one interaction.
“I entered the camp with the lodge employees. Due to the age restriction of 16 and older my sons were not allowed inside. I sat on the ground while Romeo placed his head on my lap. I petted him on his head, body and stomach. During our interaction he licked, purred and even rubbed his body against mine, showing no signs of aggressiveness,” said Laubscher-Swanepoel.
But as soon as she got up, the cat became aggressive. “When I stood up he jumped towards me and tried to bite my face. Luckily, I pulled away in time and he lightly bit the side of my chest.”
One of the staff tried to pull Romeo away from her, but he had already hooked his claw into her left calf, pulling her closer as he bit her lower leg. “His mouth locked around my leg and the employees tried to restrain him, but he would not let go. I thought I was going to lose my leg.”
Romeo only released his grip after one of the personnel sprayed him with a fire extinguisher. During the incident Juliet was kept aside by an employee. Laubscher-Swanepoel was rushed to Midmed Hospital in Middelburg in an ambulance where she was admitted and treated.
She was discharged on Wednesday. She added that she received staples and stitches, but that she still has a huge gap in her leg. The bite caused significant damage to Laubscher-Swanepoel. She is receiving physiotherapy to prevent her leg muscles from shortening while she awaits a skin graft next Monday. “I will receive my first check-up appointment today when the doctor will decide how the procedure for my skin graft will go.”
Her hospital plan paid for her medical costs, but she still had not heard from the lodge since the incident. Her sons saw the attack happen while they were standing at the camp fence.
She said they were traumatised. Now they constantly checked up on her to see if she was okay. After the attack Laubscher-Swanepoel asked the lodge employees not to harm Romeo as his nature was to be wild.
She said she would visit with wild animals again, but only if they were behind a secure fence. “We are fully aware of the incident on Sunday. Romeo has been with us for five years and he has always been friendly and lovable towards the public. This is the first time that he has attacked someone.
“Unfortunately, Romeo will always remain a wild animal that is why we let all the visitors sign a consent form before they interact with them.
“Tanya also signed the form before she entered Romeo and Juliet’s area. We appreciate her positive attitude towards the incident and she can be assured of our full support during her recovery,” said the management and staff of Mbidi Lodge.
