EXCITING FIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1933, Page 8

EXCITING FIGHT

encounter with leopard.

BROTHER’S PLUCKY ACT.

CAPETOWN, March 24

An exciting encounter with a laige male leopa.u occurred on a rarm owned by a Mr Patterson, near the headwaters of the Palala River, Transvaal. A herd boy reported that: a leopard had killed a pedigree Persian ram and two ewes and mauled several other sheep Mr Patterson called in his neighbours, tlie van Rooyan family, and a p.ut.y of four took up the leopard’s spoor, finally locating him in a deep kloof. Tlie dogs soon bayed up the animal, winch had part of his.'kill with him. A shot fired hit him in the netk, binthis merely served to infuriate hi.n, and the dogs were getting a rough time 01 it, when young ‘‘Fi'ikky’’ van Rooyan endeavoured to get tlie dogs away in order to get in a shot in a vital spot. The leopard sprang at him, clawing Him deeply across the chest and biting his hands. The dogs, leopard and man Were in a con used heap when young George van Rooyan rushed in and, seizing the leopard bv the tail, with a mighty swing flung him clear of his brother and the dogs, which gave a member of the party the chance for a vital shot.

The animal,measured just under Oft. from tin to tip and was in fine condition. “Frikky’s” wounds were washed with povman'fnifatd-'of potash and tobacco leaf poufticos 1 were nr plied. The latest .report'rs -tVlt he. $ progressing satisfactorily The van Rooyan family, which lias killed nine leopards in that noisrhbnurlioocl during the last two rears, owns some, fine hurting, dogs. The country ■ round about- is so rough and broken that. it affords excellent cover for leopards, who in six months have tolled six sheep and several calves on one farm alone.