adminNgoni Dapira Post Correspondent
REPORTS of a leopard spotted in low-density suburbs surrounding the Cecil Kop Nature Reserve in Mutare have left residents in Morningside and Bordervale living in fear. A woman from the area Mrs Violet Mutepfa witnessed the dangerous predator feeding on a baboon. “My wife who, unfortunately is not around at the moment, saw the leopard two weeks ago feasting on a baboon in broad daylight near the Cecil Kop premises just behind the Mutare Boys’ High School Soffee hostels,” said her husband Mr Mutepfa.
A teacher from Border Hills Primary School, Mrs Mangweni, who lives in Morningside was also said to have spotted the wild cat. Boarding pupils at Mutare Boys’ High School are also living in fear after they heard weird sounds of the leopard in the thickets. The pupils sought refuge at their hostel superintendent, Mr Solomon Makore’s, house when the sounds got louder.
Mr Makore on Monday confirmed the incident and said the pupils were terrified. “It was around 7pm when the students claimed to have heard the leopard sounds near the bushes close to the hostels where monkeys often play in trees. They were genuinely frightened. I then took my car and did some perimeter checks but I found nothing. We had to move the pupils in groups from the classrooms to the hostels that night after the evening study at 8pm,” said Mr Makore.
The matter has since been reported to the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
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