Johannesburg – Sheba the tiger has been found and euthanised after she escaped her enclosure located in the south of Johannesburg last week and proceeded to attack a 39-year-old man, a pig, and two dogs.
Before being on the loose for a week, The Citizen reported that Sheba was owned by a male and female whom the tigress lived with at a small holding in Walker Fruit Farm where she escaped from her enclosure after the fences were reportedly cut.
The publisher reported that community policing forum representative, Gresham Mandy said that the fences may have been cut by people intent on stealing the tigress.
“According to the owner, we believe his fences were cut by people who had ill intentions which is probably to come and steal and break in the house. There are no leads yet as to who might have cut the fence,” he was quoted as saying.
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Sowetan Live reported that the victim – William Mokoena, 39, – said he is in shock at surviving the attack.
“I still cannot believe that I am alive.
“It still feels like a dream that I am alive. I feel numb. I have not had time to digest the incident, but I thank God. What I want is for the animal to be captured because my cousin has young kids and that route is used by children who go to a school nearby,” the report quoted Mokoena as saying.
He was reportedly walking when the attack happened.
“I was bending over when something heavy pushed me to the ground. I fell and lay on my back. When I looked up, a giant animal with its mouth open wanted to reach for my face. I was screaming for help.
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“I was also using my hands so that it does not reach my face. It then jumped for my legs, grabbing the flesh with its jaws.
Mokoena reportedly waited for 12 hours for an ambulance to arrive and transport him to hospital.
According to IOL, The tigress also entered a farm area with six dwellings, with families living there and reportedly attacked and killed one of the domestic animals.
The decision to euthanise her because the tracking team deemed it impossible to contain her or secure her safely due to the terrain and area.
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
