Big leopard rescue effort ends sadly

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Despite an extensive rescue operation that lasted well into the night, the efforts of NSRI volunteers and rangers of the Tsitsikamma National Park to save a stranded leopard did not have a happy ending.

According to Lodewyk van Rensburg, station commander of Storms River and Oyster Bay NSRI, their duty crews were activated at 12:45 on Thursday 19 May to help SANParks rangers in an attempt to rescue the leopard, which was stranded in the marine section of the Storms River Gorge.

It is suspected that the leopard, a female estimated to be about three years old, may have fallen down the cliff, leaving her stranded near the water's edge.

"Kayakers from Untouched Adventures, which included NSRI Storms River crew who are SANParks rangers, had raised the alarm," Van Rensburg said.

The two NSRI duty crews launched their rescue craft 36 Bravo, Caltex Challenger 2 and Spirit of Tsitsikamma, while SANPark rangers and a SANParks vet responded.

A kayak and a Stokes basket stretcher were taken along due to concerns that after darting the leopard, she may go into attack mode and end up in the water.

"On arrival on the scene, in an incoming tide, the leopard was found to already be on the water's edge with part of her body submerged as the wave sets came in. Under the guidance of SANParks rangers and their vet the leopard was darted and she immediately swam towards the boats," said Van Rensburg.

"A kayak was positioned alongside the rescue craft. "The leopard appeared to attack the kayak when a rope was finally lassoed around her neck to prevent her from drowning."

Using the rope they pulled the leopard onto the kayak and then brought her aboard the NSRI rescue craft. Subdued by the dart, she was brought to Storms River Mouth and secured into the Stokes basket stretcher, loaded into a vehicle and taken to SANParks in Gqeberha.

Sadly, she had a fractured femur and multiple other injuries and after extensive efforts to try and save her life, she had to be euthanised.

"NSRI commends our rescue teams from Oyster Bay and Storms River and we commend the SANParks team for the incredible efforts employed to try to save the leopard. The NSRI Storms River rescue crew are all SANParks rangers from Tsitsikamma National Park," Van Rensburg said.

Various role players conducting a rescue operations of a leopard that got stranded in the Storms River Gorge. Photo: Supplied