The next time you dread going to the dentist, keep in mind that even leopards have to brave dental work sometimes! Bagheera the leopard recently took an action-packed journey back into the wild in a story that involves a stolen cow, an upset farmer, leopard root canals and lots of kind people.
North West, South Africa (September 03, 2024) — Most leopards will never have to face one of the most terrifying experiences mankind has to offer – a trip to the dentist. However, a male leopard named Bagheera wasn’t so lucky after he put his paws on a cow, which didn’t go as planned for the big cat.
During the dead of winter, Bagheera had seemingly successfully stolen a cow from a farmer in the northwest. However, once he was discovered as the cow’s culprit, Bagheera found himself trapped in a “predator trap” – a steel number that left him in uncharted and uncomfortable territory.
However, Bagheera’s luck had not yet run out. Soon, the Owl Rescue Center (who has been involved in thousands of rescues and relocations this year alone, including Chunkywon the hippo) were alerted to his condition and were on their way to rescue him.
There was still a long way to go before Bagheera could be released back home into the wild, largely due to the mother of all ailments – teething problems. While in rehab with Professor Steenkamp, it became apparent that Bagheera’s pearly whites had been damaged during the steel trap ordeal, meaning he urgently needed a root canal.
As many of us on the receiving end of a root canal know firsthand, cost is not kind (even if you’re a leopard). In addition, Bagheera also needed a special collar – what his rescuers called a “release collar” – so that he could be identified. In this way, the team is able to virtually track the animal’s movements and make sure it stays away from traps and trouble.
But thanks to the determined first-time efforts of the animals from the Owl Rescue Centre’s team and a local radio station, Bagheera’s R46,000 bill was raised with some spare coffee change—just in time for the cat to return to spring action.
Bagheera was released in early August with a happy ending for all involved, and the team has been keeping a close eye on him ever since.
