Leopard Viciously Attacks Man Trying To Rescue Goat, Bites Friends Who Intervened

KEY POINTS

Goatherd attacked while "trying to rescue a goat from the leopard's jaws"
The animal then attacked two others who had come to rescue him
Officials were tracking the leopard

Three men were hospitalized after they were viciously attacked by a leopard in Namibia on Monday.

One of the victims, identified as 48-year-old Esegiel Pitifo, was herding his goats in a field when the leopard attempted to attack one of the animals. In order to save the goat, Pitifo began to fight the leopard during which he was bitten in the arm. Pitifo managed to grab his cell phone and call two of his friends.

"He was bitten on the left arm as he was wrestling and trying to rescue a goat from the Leopard's jaws. He managed to phone his friends," Erongo police detective chief inspector Daniel Gurirab told the Namibian.

The two men, identified as 39-year-old Frans Garoeb and 40-year-old Enrico Goraseb, immediately rushed to the scene and tried to save their friend. In the process, both of them were attacked by the leopard.

"The two, during their commotion with the leopard, also got attacked. Goraseb sustained serious injuries on the head and the right arm, while Garoeb was bitten on the head and sustained an open wound," the officer told the Street Journal.

After attacking the men, the leopard left the scene. The men were rushed to a local hospital. They were being treated and were listed in stable condition.

Meanwhile, the officials continued to track the leopard. The investigation into the case was ongoing.

"We have, so far, established that the leopard has two cubs and the ministry is considering capturing and relocating the leopards to an area where they are less likely to cause problems," Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda told the Street Journal.

"The ministry regrets the incident and fully sympathizes with victims. We wish to appeal to members of the public to be cautious and avoid approaching dangerous predators in such a manner. Incidences such as this must be reported to the ministry, police, or the nearest conservancy for intervention, without necessarily having risked lives like in this case," Muyunda added.