Cat caught in a snare rescued and treated
MIDRAND – Resident and a veterinary hospital step in to help a cat.
Hope, a cat that was caught in a snare in Blue Hills, was rescued and treated by the local veterinarian.
Alwina Brand, a resident who rescued the cat, told Midrand Reporter that the cat used to come to her house to eat. “We, however, could never catch him before as he is scared of our dogs and other cats.
“Fortunately, we did manage to finally catch him one evening when we saw that he had a broken snare around his waist. We took him to and Dr Lynne Hepplestone was very kind and helpful in meeting us at the surgery to cut the snare to relieve the pressure that evening.”
Brand said Hope had to have the wire removed surgically as it was already embedded in its skin. “Unfortunately, Hope is the third cat caught in a snare during the past 10 years. About eight years ago we caught a feral cat who had an embedded snare around his paw.
“One of our own cats, fortunately, broke free and managed to return home with a snare around her paw as well.
“The problem is the vacant land around us. It is almost impossible to clear all the snares, especially with the grass and sheer amount of square footage that has to be covered.”
The Greater Kyalami Conservancy, chairperson Kirstin Kallesen said 65 people joined the conservancy and Sector 4 Community Policing Forum to remove snares and general rubbish in the open veld in Kyalami. She said snares were often made from wire but could be made from cord or line and were often placed along trails that wildlife used when crossing the veld.
These can be attached to shrubs or fences and catch not only birds and wildlife but also domestic animals, this often causes intense suffering and even death. Kallesen added, “During the clean up, Anton van Niekerk from the conservancy explained that common species in the area which fall prey to snares are guinea fowl, hare, jackal and mongoose.”
She mentioned that Pikitup, Friends of Free Wildlife and Khanya Engineering Projects also joined in the clean-up with children from neighbouring Riversands Farm. Suspected snares and snare materials were removed and the area cleaned of rubbish.
She added, “We also want to encourage all people on agricultural holdings to check their properties regularly for snares. These are often found on boundary walls or fences to snare both wildlife and domestic animals.”
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