PMB schoolboy bitten by cheetah
News of the attack first emerged on Twitter after BloodLions, the organisation behind the controversial canned lion documentary, re-tweeted: “The dangers of wild animal interaction. Young PMB pupil allegedly attacked by a cheetah at KwaCheetah, Nambiti Reserve.”
Headmaster of Cowan House Preparatory School, Robin Odell confirmed that a student was bitten by a cheetah, after the animal managed to "partially force its way through a game fence" during an education tour yesterday.
“The school’s Board of Governors and Management have been in constant contact with all the relevant parties as well as the parents of the pupil,” Odell said.
“The pupil received immediate and appropriate medical attention for his injuries and is expected to make a full recovery from the bite wounds.”
The incident has raised questions over the breeding habits of wild cheetahs at the game reserve.
Wildlands Conservation Trust CEO Dr Andrew Venter says that the breeding practises at Nambiti Game Reserve could have been avoided, as cheetahs are not being released into the wild after breeding.
“The facilities are there, so why are the animals not being released into the wild? How did a cheetah get that close?
"The Endangered Wildlife Trust has forecast that this could happen, and now we see it is starting to happen. We’ve had a cheetah attack a child.”
Desmond Gouws, a manager of the The KwaCheetah breeding project, Nambiti Game Reserve could not confirm the incident.
Dangers of wild animal interaction. Young Pmb pupil allegedly attacked by a cheetah at KwaCheetah, Nambiti Reserve yesterday @WitnessKZN
— sharon bishop (@pixlady) August 7, 2015
NEWS: After new story leaks of cheetah attack at #KwaCheetah breeding project- all their online media has been shut down.
— Blood Lions Official (@Blood_Lions) August 7, 2015
(File photo)