Watch: NSPCA frees tigers from concrete jungle
Magnificent felines that were kept in a barren, urban enclosure with no grass or tree in sight have been relocated to much greener pastures.
Two white Bengal tigers, kept as pets on a property in Impala Park in Boksburg, Gauteng, were relocated to a National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA)-accredited wildlife facility in the Free State on Tuesday.
The tigers made headlines in 2021 after staff at a crèche just behind the property spotted one of them.
At the time, Boksburg SPCA manager Vicky Finnemore said their hands were tied. They had done an inspection and found the tigers in good condition, although they questioned whether their enclosure was adequately secure.
Finnemore explained that owning a tiger as a pet is legal, and owners don’t need permits to keep these wild animals, but they must have permits for transportation.
“Transportation permits are to transport the animal, for instance, if they want to take it to the vet or anywhere for any reason,” Finnemore added.
A magnificent and heartbreaking release
According to the NSPCA’s Jacques Peacock, the Boksburg SPCA proactively and persistently worked with the owner, which led to the animals being taken into the care of the NSPCA.
In a media statement, Peacock said: “The tigers were sentenced to a barren, urban enclosure; trapped in a concrete jungle in suburbia, without a speck of grass or a tree in sight. With no freedom to express normal behaviour, the tigers became objects of human gratification.
“The NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit, in collaboration with the Boksburg SPCA inspectorate and renowned big cat veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell, attended to the Boksburg property to safely sedate and transport the tigers.
“The operation proceeded smoothly, and the tigers were relocated to a sanctuary providing a habitat conducive to their well-being.
“Their release was magnificent and heartbreaking – with the tigers taking excited leaps to freedom while interacting with grass for the first time.
“Their bounds were filled with curiosity for their new haven, where they can live the rest of their lives free from concrete,” he added.
He said the NSPCA staunchly opposes the keeping and breeding of indigenous and exotic wild species in captivity for purposes other than genuine conservation efforts or rehabilitation and sanctuary purposes in facilities approved by the National Council of SPCAs.
The NSPCA extended its sincere congratulations and gratitude to the Boksburg SPCA for its proactive stance in initiating this crucial step towards ending the confinement of exotic wild species in South Africa.
‘Shock of my life’ – previous crèche owner
The crèche owner, who asked to remain anonymous, previously said that she noticed one of the tigers looking over the wall on September 23, 2021.
She said she got the shock of her life. Despite running the early childhood development centre (ECD) for some time, she said they were unaware of the tiger’s presence. “We feel the children’s lives are in danger because the property perimeter wall is not high enough to prevent the animals from jumping over,” she alleged at the time.
The Boksburg Advertiser has reached out to the tigers’ owners and the crèche for comment, but it had not been received at the time of publishing.
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