APRIL FOOLS!! Roaming tiger captured near Ster Park https://buff.ly/2PnWumR
30 March
POLOKWANE – The exotic animal that escaped in the early hours of Monday morning is yet to be identified by the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.
Spokesperson, Zaid Kalla says they are still awaiting test results from a specimen taken at the scene, but suspects it is of the cat family. He added that more information will be made available once received.
“We are still appealing to the public to remain calm and advise those who come into contact with the animal to not run or make sudden movements,” he said.
29 March
POLOKWANE – The Spokesperson for the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Zaid Kalla, says a specimen of the animal believed to have escaped from a moving vehicle was collected in the early hours of this morning.
Review approached Kalla after receiving a voice message on our WhatsApp number by a concerned motorist who said she spotted the animal in the bushes near the stadium this morning.
“The department was alerted of the sighting much earlier and presented itself at the scene. The animal was being transported by truck and escaped out the back. It is believed the trailer’s door was not secure,” he said.
Kalla added that the animal was being transported to a private auction in the Louis Trichardt area and due to its highly unpredictable and dangerous characteristics, is deemed unstable and not suited for the surrounding environment.
“At this moment, the animal considers itself trapped in a foreign and hostile environment, it is agitated and will attack. We advise those who come in contact with the animal to not run or make any sudden movements and avoid eye contact,” he said.
This is not the first time a wild animal has been spotted near the city.
Read more: Brown hyena found near Mall of the North
In 2018, the body of a brown hyena was found dead near the offramp to a local mall. At the time, Kalla told Review that brown hyenas do occur locally.
