Beware! There's a tiger on the loose

FEARFUL residents in Mpumalanga have a live tiger in their midst.Police spokesperson Constable Ntombifuthi Mashi-yane said residents near Delmas were not safe until the tiger was captured.

Yesterday, police went to farm schools to warn about the dangerous animal.

"We advise parents to keep their children indoors. We also appeal to them to accompany their children to bus stops and schools," Mashiyane said.

Panjo, weighing 140kg, fell from a bakkie while being transported from Groblersdal in Limpopo to Springs in Ekurhuleni on Monday night. He was being taken to a veterinarian.

"I fear he was injured because he leapt off the bakkie," said owner Rosa Fernandes.

"I appeal to people not to provoke him but contact us or alert the officials the minute they spot him."

A helicopter and two planes yesterday hovered above where people claimed to have spotted Panjo.

"He is like a kitten in the house. If you call his name he comes to you. He has an enclosure at home the size of a soccer pitch with a swimming pool," said Rosa's husband "Goosey" Fernandes.

The family said they were willing to offer a reward to anyone responsible for Panjo's safe return.

Taxi driver Pule Zulu said: "He must be captured soon. I won't sleep knowing that there is a dangerous animal out in the neighbourhood."

Brenda Santon, manager of a wildlife unit, said Panjo was an adult and therefore dangerous - despite having been tamed by his owners.

• If anyone sees Panjo they should call the police or Santon on 082-828-0386.