Five unlikely animals in Joburg

These creatures are well known to the citizens and have become synonymous with the culture of the City of Gold – but sometimes animals enter our city that do not quite belong in an urban environment.

Five such unlikely animals found on the streets of Joburg are:

•  Ground pangolin: This very rare creature, which is difficult to find in the most prestigious reserves, was found wandering the streets of Illovo with a broken pool net wrapped around its head last year.

•  Hedgehogs: South African hedgehogs, although rarely seen, have been found in Kyalami, Midrand and Northriding, with many more examples all over Johannesburg.

•  Egyptian goose: Last year, on 1 August, an Egyptian goose was seen hanging upside down from the Vodacom towers. After two days it was saved by an employee and has since been returned to the wild.

•  Brown hyena: Many brown hyenas have been spotted in Johannesburg over the years, but one of the most recent sightings was of a one roaming the streets of Blairgowrie on 26 September last year.

•  Burmese python: In April, a 3.8m Burmese python called Bubbles went missing from her enclosure in a pet store in Oaklands Shopping Centre. Days later she was found coiled up outside her cage.

FreeMe, a wildlife rehabilitation centre based in Paulshof, is just one organisation, along with the efforts of concerned citizens and organisations, that helps to ensure such creatures are soon returned to their own habitats.