NSRI Storms River and NSRI Oyster Bay duty crews were
activated to join SA National Park rangers in an effort to save a leopard
stranded on a cliff face at the marine section of the
Storms River Gorge on Friday.
Lodewyk van Rensburg, NSRI Storms River and NSRI Oyster Bay
Station Commander, said that kayakers from Untouched Adventures, which included NSRI
Storms River crew who are SA National Park rangers, had raised the alarm. NSRI
and SA National Parks then launched a rescue operation.
NSRI Storms River and NSRI Oyster Bay duty crews responded
with NSRI rescue craft. SA National Park rangers and an SA National Parks Vet also responded.
It is suspected that the leopard, a female estimated to be
about three years old, may have fallen down the cliff and was stranded on a
cliff face near the water’s edge.
NSRI Oyster Bay’s Rescue 36 Bravo, Caltex Challenger 2, and
NSRI Storms River Rescue 46, Spirit of Tsitsikamma, were launched, accompanied
by SA National Park rangers and their veterinary surgeon.
“A kayak and a Stokes basket stretcher were taken along as
it was expected that after darting the leopard, she may go into attack mode and
may very well land 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 SA National Park rangers and their vet, the leopard was darted and she immediately swam towards the boats. The
kayak was positioned alongside the rescue craft. The leopard appeared to attack
the kayak when a rope was able to be lassoed around her neck to prevent her
from drowning,” Van Rensburg explained.
He added that the leopard was pulled onto the kayak using the rope and
then recovered onto the NSRI rescue craft.
“Subdued by the dart, the leopard was brought to Storms River
Mouth and secured into the Stokes basket stretcher, loaded into a vehicle and
taken to SANParks in Gqeberha. With a fractured femur and multiple injuries, sadly, despite
extensive efforts to save the leopard, she was humanely euthanised by the vets,” he added.
“NSRI commend our NSRI rescue teams from Oyster Bay and
Storms River and we commend the SA National Parks team for the incredible
efforts employed to try to save the leopard. The NSRI Storms River rescue crew are all SA National Parks
rangers from Tsitsikamma National Parks.”
ISSUED BY THE NSRI
