Mother rescues child from leopard's jaws seconds before fatal attack

A two-year-old is receiving treatment for severe wounds at Chilonga Mission General Hospital in Mpika after being attacked by a leopard on Sunday night.

The attack occurred in Nabwalya, between the North and South Luangwa national parks. The parks are home to a significant population of the continent’s “Big Five” wild animals where attacks are frequent.

The baby’s mother, Tidah Mubanga, was responsible for saving her two-year-old’s life.

Mubanga said the incident occurred around midnight whilst sleeping at their farm. She awoke to find a leopard pulling her toddlers’ head and, after a struggle, successfully managed to move her child away from the animal before the situation turned fatal.

Chilonga Mission General Hospital Medical Superintendent Bertin Kalengai said the hospital was able to stop the bleeding and save the baby, who is now responding well to treatment.

This becomes the third case of wild animal attacks from Nabwalya that the hospital is treating this year.

Mpika District Commissioner David Siame paid a visit to the toddler in hospital on Wednesday, ensuring that the Department of National Parks and Wildlife will work to stop wild attacks.

"I’m aware that our people are living in fear due to animal attacks, but the government has not given the situation in Nabwalya a blind eye. We are working on measures to curb the attacks,” he stated.