Image: Supplied
Alert: Cheetah escapes from Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Tshwane
A cheetah escaped from the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Tshwane on Tuesday, 4 May. The public are urged to report any sightings to the reserve.
Image: Supplied
The City of Tshwane has warned residents and visitors close to the Rietvlei Nature Reserve to be vigilant of a cheetah that escaped from the premises.
According to city spokesperson Selby Bokaba the big cat escaped on Tuesday, 4 May. It isn’t yet clear how the cheetah escaped in the first place.
CHEETAH IS PART OF A CONSERVATION PROJECT
The cheetah was introduced by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) as part of their conservation project to enhance cheetah numbers countrywide.
“The City wishes to warn visitors to the Rietvlei Nature Reserve and residents in the surrounding areas to be careful, vigilant and on the lookout for a cheetah that escaped from the reserve on Tuesday, 4 May.
“It is not clear how the animal escaped; however, it is believed that it may have made use of a hole underneath the fence dug by smaller animals,” said Bokaba.
FENCE WAS ELECTRIFIED AND PATROLLED DAILY
The fence surrounding the premises is electrified and cheetahs in the past has reportedly never managed to exit the nature reserve.
“The parameter is patrolled daily and repairs are done regularly to prevent incidents like this. After the first sighting of the cheetah outside the nature reserve, it was reported to the nature reserve management by an adjacent landowner.”
The reserve’s management launched an investigation immediately and could later confirm the animal tracks and sightings on Tuesday.
THE PUBLIC ARE ASKED TO REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS
Members of the Endangered Wildlife Trust project are in the process of trying to recapture the cheetah while adjacent landowners have been notified to report any sightings of the animal to nature reserve management.
“The cheetah has a neck collar that sends signals for tracing purposes. A veterinarian is also on standby to tranquilise the animal,” said Bokaba.
Visitors to the nature reserve and members of the public are also requested to report any sighting of the animal to mobile number to 082-322- 5639.
READ: Crocodile escape: Public should ‘avoid Breede River’ as search continues
