PRETORIA – Mr Curtis Plumb (37), the safari guide who was attacked by a leopard in the Kruger National Park (KNP) while operating an open safari vehicle (OSV) earlier this month, did nothing wrong.
This was the conclusion of SANParks officials who conducted an investigation based on eyewitness reports, videos and photos of the incident.
Plumb was attacked by the animal on July 2 on the Alpha Loop on the H4-1 just outside Skukuza Rest Camp on the road to Lower Sabie. A video of the incident showed Plumb reversing in an attempt to get rid of the animal which had grabbed onto his arms earlier. It ended up on the bonnet of the OSV and continued to chase the vehicle even after it had fallen off. Plumb drove over the animal in his attempt to escape. It was badly injured and had to be euthanised shortly after the incident.
Also read: Leopard mauls tour operator in Kruger
Speaking at a media briefing at its headquarters yesterday, Mr Glenn Phillips, KNP managing executive said, “SANParks, through Mr Joep Stevens, conducted a thorough investigation to, inter alia, determine the facts around the unusual behaviour shown by the leopard on that fateful day.
It is very sad that this incident took place in the presence of guests and that the leopard had to be euthanised. Leopard sightings are most special in the park, and no one wants to see this happen, as various people had to, during this incident.”
Regarding the risk related to OSVs, Phillips indicated that in the past 15 years, close to 1,5 million guests entered the park on privately operated OSVs. This translated to an average of 262 people in 41 vehicles every day. This incident was only the second of its kind since the inception of OSV operations 20 years ago.
“As long as standards are maintained with vehicle design (height of sides) and guides are suitably skilled, the risk is minimal.”
According to Phillips, investigations on the leopard pointed out that the animal was in a very poor condition and that the unusual behaviour was possibly a result of gradual habituation due to feeding. “This and other related circumstances which led to a decision to euthanise the animal were confirmed by a post-mortem administered by the Skukuza state veterinarian who attended to the matter.”
He said the results revealed that the animal’s teeth were in a poor condition, its stomach was empty, it had a distended or swollen gall bladder, was burdened by parasites (both internally and externally), had abnormally worn paw pads and was infected with tuberculosis.
Phillips also revealed that apart from the post-mortem procedure carried out, the investigation also focused on a number of aspects including allegations, mostly on social-media platforms, of harassment or the ”boxing in” of the leopard by the tourist guide. “This aspect received specific focus during the investigation with consideration given to eyewitness accounts as well as graphic sketches from the guide and visual or video evidence provided.
“It has to be said that on closer inspection, it was evident that the animal was in no way ‘boxed-in’ or harassed in its free movement as alleged in some of the social-media comments. The investigation has therefore absolved the tourist guide from any wrongdoing.”
In conclusion Phillips indicated that the investigation report broadly acknowledged that the leopard was in poor condition and according to eyewitnesses who spotted the animal earlier, its behaviour was clearly unusual as it reared itself against a window of another vehicle.
View here: Video taken of leopard just an hour before attack
Therefore the conduct of Plumb was not unlawful or unreasonable.
Phillips thanked members of the public who came forward in order to assist in the investigation and indicated that management will look at various visitor-management interventions to improve the conduct on our roads, especially at game sightings.
