Livestock herder survives leopard attack

A LIVESTOCK herder in Rende Woud settlement near Khorixas survived a leopard attack on Saturday that left him with an injured arm.

Kunene regional police chief James Nderura confirmed the incident, but said the matter was being investigated by the environment ministry.

The herder, Calvin Katjivere (37), said on the day of the attack, after taking his employer’s goats and sheep to the veld, he returned home, but realised some of the sheep had returned to the kraal. He said he returned to the veld and found two sheep and a goat lying in a pool of blood.

“I saw a spoor and thought it was a jackal, but on closer inspection, I saw that the prints were larger,” the father of two said.

Katjivere said his dogs started barking and a leopard came down a tree, about 20 metres from where he was, and jumped on him.

“The moment the leopard jumped at me, I threw a spear at it, which injured the cat,” he said.

According to Katjivere, the leopard bit him on his arm but he fought it off with his free hand.

“Before the attack, I had called my employer and asked her to inform people at home to come to the veld as some predator had killed some of the livestock,” Katjivere said.

While he was fighting off the leopard, another herder, Robert Haraeb, grabbed the spear and stabbed the leopard.

“We killed it (leopard) with the spear and panga,” Katjivere said.

He and Haraeb, who was bitten on the thigh, were treated at the Khorixas State Hospital but have since been discharged.

Katjivere said he might not be able to use his arm again after the attack and is concerned about not getting employment in future.

“I used to gather firewood to provide for my children, but after this [attack], life might not be the same,” he said.

#Aodaman Traditional Authority chief Petrus Ukongo told that many farmers are experiencing problems with wild animals and warned livestock herders to be cautious and not drive livestock too deep into the veld.

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