On the morning of Tuesday, October 12, they rescued an injured female impala with the help of bystanders from a busy road leading to one of the local mines. Later that evening, PNHF together with SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association’s Mopani branch, Dirk de Klerk from LEDET, Dr Gerrit Scheepers from Phalaborwa Animal and Bird Clinic and a large group of volunteers, immobilised an injured young hippo bull in a residential area of Phalaborwa.
This happened after it was attacked by a dominant bull at the only available water source for hippos in the area. The hippo was relocated to the Olifants River where it could move into the Kruger National Park, Klaserie Reserve, Balule Reserve or into one of the many dams on the local mines. On Friday, October 22, the foundation discovered a young elephant cow with a snare around her leg, after contacting Elephants Alive and LEDET, Jana Meyer from Hope for Wildlife Helicopter Services was on her way with Dr Ben Muller from Wildscapes Veterinary & Conservation Services.
They kept an eye on the herd until the helicopter arrived. Within an hour after the elephant cow was first seen with the snare, she was darted, the snare removed and reunited with her herd. On Saturday, October 23, PNHF directors together with volunteers, conducted a snare removal operation on a property just north of Phalaborwa where horse stables are situated. The owner of cattle that graze on the property had shortly before lost cattle in snares. Seven large snares were removed on the day and over 30 were removed before their arrival on the property, these were set for resident impala as well as for the cattle.
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“We discovered an impala ram that was killed in a snare just the previous day. “A suspected snare poacher was apprehended and taken into custody by Lulekani police,” Eugene Troskie of PNHF explained. On Saturday, October 30, an injured fish eagle was discovered by PMC personnel Lenient and Sasha Bornman after it got trapped in a drain. The very dehydrated eagle was taken to the Phalaborwa Animal and Bird Clinic and was treated by Dr Scheepers by administering a rare procedure called an intraosseous drip; it was tube-fed and given vitamins.
After it was stabilised, the eagle was taken to Rion Lerm, PNHF director and falconer, for further rehabilitation. After the successful treatment and rehabilitation of the eagle it was released back on the PMC property, close to a large water body on Tuesday, November 2. On the Monday morning, November 1, the foundation, conducted a snare sweep right next to Jakkalsbessie Crescent in Phalaborwa after snaring in front of a specific house was reported. “We removed a total of 15 illegal poacher snares, likely set by contractors working on a thatch roof right across the road from where the snares were removed.
“Immediately after the snare sweep, PNHF received a phone call regarding a spotted hyena that fell into an uncovered manhole along the water board road. PNHF directors, Dirk de Klerk from LEDET and Dr Gerrit Scheepers from Phalaborwa Animal and Bird Clinic rushed to the scene. The animal had fallen into the manhole after a scuffle broke out between clan members the previous evening, by the time we arrived on the scene, the animal was already in the manhole for over ten hours,” Troskie added.
The hyena was darted, quickly removed from the manhole and assessed for injuries, it was found to be in shock and dehydrated. After administering a drip and further treatment, it was given a reversal drug to wake it up after being immobilised.The animal recovered and walked away unscathed. Troskie also thanked every volunteer, resident, business and company that assisted them during the busy month. “You made it possible for us to have such a positive impact on our local environment,” he concluded. Follow the foundation on Facebook.
