One hyena captured after attacks at Cape Vidal campsite

Efforts are now under way to catch and relocate the rest after two campers were injured. By Tony Carnie

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The recent hyena attack on Eshowe farmer Nicolas Hohls at Cape Vidal in northern KwaZulu-Natal on 31 August follows a similar attack on Gauteng businessman Tim Govender at the same campsite on 11 August.

Govender lost part of his nose and is still receiving treatment after undergoing reconstructive surgery.

“I don’t want to get into a long legal dispute over this,” Govender said. “But I would like people to be aware of the risk of wild animals at Cape Vidal and to close up their tents completely before going to sleep.”

Responding to queries from Daily Maverick this week, nature conservation agency Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife said one of the hyenas had been captured so far.

“We are actively busy capturing and moving hyenas from the campsite with some success. The operation continues.”

In a previous joint statement on 3 September, Ezemvelo and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority said staff were trying to capture and relocate the “two or three hyenas that often roam within the campsite” and were suspected to have been responsible for the attacks on Hohls and Govender.

Describing his ordeal, Govender said he went to sleep at about midnight, sharing a tent with his uncle and cousin during a fishing trip. The door flap was left half open.

Shocked and in severe pain, he woke at about 3.30am to discover “something pulling on my face”.