‘Don’t keep wild animals as pets’ says CROW
In the case of the blue duiker, due to the high levels of stress and pain imposed on the mother, her unborn baby died before any veterinary intervention was possible.
HIGHWAY residents are urged not to keep wild animals as pets, but to rather contact the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW).
A heavily pregnant blue duiker was recently dropped off at the CROW centre after it was rescued from an infamously growing trend of keeping wild animals as pets.
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Following a thorough physical examination conducted by the CROW clinic team, it was discovered that the blue duiker’s hooves had been cut down to the nerves with some sort of cutting tool or from being housed on a concrete floor.
“This resulted in excruciating pain and stress for the duiker, which was compounded by her pregnancy,” said the organisation’s director, Paul Hoyte.
“Her horns had also been filed down, taking away a duiker’s only line of defence when faced with a confrontation. This is called maiming; the act of removing important parts of an animal which is illegal.”
In the case of the blue duiker, due to the high levels of stress and pain imposed on the mother, her unborn baby died before any veterinary intervention was possible. The mother wasn’t far behind.
“Two lives lost because a person decided that they had the right to contain this animal against its will, perform inhumane acts of maiming and ultimately killing a mother and her unborn child. We are the smarter species, we all have phones and internet. I urge anyone who finds a wild animal in need to contact their local wildlife authority or rehabilitation facility. We all need to work together to ensure the preservation of wild populations,” said Hoyte.
CROW is the only wildlife rehabilitation centre in Durban registered to work with all types of indigenous wildlife found in KZN. Every year the NPO rescues, rehabilitates and releases more than 3000 orphaned, injured and displaced wild animals.
To assist CROW in looking after injured, displaced or orphaned wildlife, join its one thousand one hundred club membership programme. For R100 a month, you can help CROW give thousands of injured and orphaned wildlife a second chance.
All donations cover CROW’s essential operating costs. E-mail info@crowkzn.co.za to join.
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