Editor's noteLocal newsNews

Meyersdal Eco Estate giraffe dies on the highway

One of two giraffes from the Meyersdal Eco Estate died while being transported to a privately owned game farm in Kameeldrift.

MEYERSDAL – The two animals were transported in an open trailer when the one hit its head against the Garsfontein over bridge on the N1 highway. Transportation of animals on an open trailer is in contravention with the regulations of transporting animals.

A daily newspaper reported that an eyewitness saw the giraffe’s head hitting the bridge, then the neck just hanging and almost jumping up again due to shock. It further reports that when the witness saw the blood coming from the giraffe’s nose, he knew it was dead.

A regular visitor to the estate (who wishes to remain anonymous) phoned in and said: “This is so sad. So totally unnecessary. The giraffe were so beautiful to watch. When they walked through the veld in their own graceful way, watching them gave you a moment to escape from the harsh realities of city life in the midst of city life.”

Meyersdal Eco Estate released the following statement:

“The management and community of the Meyersdal Eco Estate was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the incident involving the death of a giraffe bull on the N1 on July 31.

“Meyersdal Eco Estate will provide its full co-operation to the authorities to ensure that the responsible persons are held accountable.

“In selecting a game capturing company to handle the sale and capture of the giraffes, Meyersdal Eco Estate was assured that the appointed game capturing company, Ditjabe Wildlife Services, would follow all ethical requirements.

“The Gauteng Department of Agricultural and Rural Development issued a permit to the appointed game capturing company to purchase and capture the giraffes from the Estate.

“Meyersdal Eco Estate is in the process of gathering all the facts surrounding this unfortunate incident.”

Related Articles

12 Comments

  1. BAD management, from seller to purchers, all is responsible for transport of a wildlife animal!!!!!!!!! Come on people, common maths, hight of truck, hight of giraffe and hight of bridges, flippen hell?!?!?!?!? You killed an innocent animal, and you call yourself intelligent humans?????

  2. I am horrified!!!!! I cannot believe what has happened…who is responsible for instigating that these beautiful serene creatures should have been re moved from their enviroment. They were totally harmless…if anything they brought a lot of joy to the residents of the Eco Estate. As well as being a lovely topic of secenery and conversation throughtout Meyersdal and perhaps even country wide. Can people not just LEAVE WELL ALONE!!!
    Very very upsetting! :( :(

  3. “In selecting a game capturing company to handle the sale and capture of the giraffes, Meyersdal Eco Estate was assured that the appointed game capturing company, Ditjabe Wildlife Services, would follow all ethical requirements.” Meyersdal Eco Estate should also be held accountable – I am pretty sure that the Giraffe left there in the open top trailer, so the people at the Estate knew then already that it was in contravention of the regulations! Disgusting! I hope this company and the idiot driver is brought to book!

  4. Shame the giraffes werent driving and the monkey driver didnt get his head taken off . Typical of the “new ” South Africa. Total crock up

  5. Shame the giraffe wasnt driving the truck and the monkey was in the back . The giraffe was probably cleaner and more intelligent than monkey . Problem is giraffes dont get to vote for the ANC

  6. More clarification needs to come from the Eco Estate as to why were they sold, was the residents aware of the sale and why were they allowed to be transported in this undignified manner, responsibilty is squarely placed on their shoulders …. Why didn’t anyone stop the truck it was simple semantics? I am so disappointed and saddened and I guess it’s one of those adages money doesn’t always equal to brains or compassion! Shame on you!

  7. The optimal/preferred habitat for giraffe is min400Ha of Savannah Woodland, The Highveld Grasslands of the Meyersdal Meyersdal Eco Estate is no place for the species? Someone needs to look into is from a permit issuing point of view?

  8. This is disgusting. The meyersdal eco estate has declared war on its wildlife, and not just on the giraffes. They should be held accountable for this tragedy. Did they not supervise, the capturing and removing of these majestic creatures ? Why did they give consent for animals to be removed in this undignified manner ? . They are “nature Conservationists” so surely they should know the rules and regulations required to transport animals safely.. Even tho , yes the driver is also in the wrong, he was obviously given instructions to drive them wherever. Meyersdal Eco Estate are the big guilty ones here. They obviously need more space for the constant construction there and need to remove animals. As usual the animals pay the ultimate price for human bombardment.

  9. The management of the Eco Estate is run by so-called wildlife experts. They are the ones that should be held responsible – they are the “experts”. They were there when the giraffes were loaded. They don’t care about the animals that occupy the area, I am sure the sale of these unfortunate animals were about money. Build your mansions and drive whatever wildlife is still left out, or just kill them to get rid of them. I say investigate the management and their hidden agenda’s. Maybe an investigation in how these nature estates and the animals that are there are dealt with, should be done< or does money talk????

  10. Sad reading. Driving past Michelle Avenue in the evening gives one a glimps of Giraffs in town. How can one attempt to capture and transport such beautiful animals without following proper procedures. Its very cruel slapping head of innocent animal against the bridge. Let’s take responsibility of our actions and look after animals like our own children.

    Sad reading

Back to top button