Resident shocked after bird is shot with paintball gun
“Shooting a bird is a malicious act,"
The shooting of a pigeon in Modderfontein has left Lakeside Village resident Kimbal Mare shocked.
Mare, chairperson of Lakeside Village’s environmental subcommittee, believes the bird was shot with a paintball gun.
The body of the bird was brought to Mare’s attention on November 13.
“The bird had uneven bright pink splotches on it. The size of the injuries were consistent with the size of a paintball,” said Mare.
Inspector Jade Nel of the Edenvale SPCA said after looking at photographs of the bird it appeared the bird was shot with a paintball gun.
Mare said the pigeon was found in Lakeside Village.
There were no feathers or paint spatters surrounding the bird.
“I was shocked when I saw the bird. Most of the residents in Lakeside love animals,” said Mare.
Mare questioned why someone would do this in such an environmentally aware area.
Soon after the discovery Mare reported the matter to the Edenvale SPCA.
“Shooting a bird is a malicious act. Too many people keep quiet and don’t report birds being shot,” said Nel.
Nel said discharging a pellet or paintball gun in a built-up (residential) area is a contravention of the Firearms Control Act.
Nel said residents found shooting animals with pellet guns, other weapons or poisoning animals can also be found to be in contravention of the Animal Protection Act.
The SPCA has no information about who is responsible for the shooting of the pigeon.
Mare said the environmental subcommittee at Lakeside Village was established to help animals in need.
The subcommittee looks after animals in Lakeside Village and the surrounding areas.
“I know pigeons can be a nuisance but there is no need for any cruelty towards animals,” said Mare.
Dee Hendricks, founder of Brainy Birds, an Edenvale based parrot rehabilitation centre, said that in the past month there has been an increase in attacks on birds.
She said between November 12 and 18 four dead Hadeda Ibises were found on a pavement along Fifteenth Avenue.
The birds were shot with a pellet gun.
“It is not only Modderfontein but the whole of Edenvale,” said Hendricks.
In the past month Hendricks has had eight birds injured by pellet and paintball guns, brought to her.
Hendricks said most of the birds die.
“If a bird is shot in the head or chest, it’s lethal. If it is hit on the wing it’s possible to save the bird,” said Hendricks.
To report any cruelty to animals or information about bird shootings, phone the Edenvale SPCA on 011 974 9268 or email inspector@edenvalespca.co.za.
To report cruelty to animals in Lakeside Village, phone Mare on 0823282484.
