Leopard attacks men at South African air base

A leopard has attacked two men at a South African air force base bordering the world-famous Kruger National Park.

One of the men, a uniformed Air Force member, was attacked while out for a run, while the other, a civilian who worked at the base, encountered the leopard while out for a walk, an Air Force spokesman said.

The two people were taken to hospital with scratches but no serious injuries, Brigadier Donavan Chetty told the BBC.

One of them has since been fired and the other is leaving on Thursday.

The leopard was captured on Wednesday and transferred to a reserve about 100 kilometres from Hoedspruit Air Force Base, following last week’s attacks.

According to General Chetty, encounters with leopards are common but generally not dangerous to people living and working near the park.

The park, a tourist attraction because of its rich flora and fauna, is largely fenced off.

However, General Chetty said it was impossible to contain leopards, which are known for their agility, with fences.

“(The leopards) live mainly among the human population,” he said, adding that there are reportedly about 150 of them living in the area.

Leopards are nocturnal animals that hunt a variety of prey, including wildebeest, antelope and fish, according to the Kruger National Park website.

In 2017, three lions were killed after escaping from the park.