An autopsy indicated that the male leopard that killed a 49-year-old woman at Skukuza was under stress, Kruger National Park veterinarian Douw Grobler said on Thursday.
He said the pathology seen in the liver, stomach and heart would have significantly affected the stamina and wellbeing of the leopard.
The presence of bite marks indicated social stress and porcupine quills showed that the leopard was in constant pain.
It had also been very lean.
"A normal animal of this age should have been in a much better and healthier condition.
"The fact that it was wandering in Skukuza during daytime and showed no fear of humans either, is probably a cumulative effect of all the above factors," he said.
Park rangers killed the four- to five-year-old animal after it attacked Kotie de Beer, wife of employee Nic de Beer, on Wednesday afternoon.
The leopard attacked De Beer near a nursery near the staff compound. - Sapa