Blesbok culled on Leeuwkop Prison grounds

Several blesbok and fallow deer were culled on Leeuwkop Correctional Services grounds on June 19, Fourways Review reports.

This has sparked outrage among community members, who raised concern about whether the prison officials had a permit to cull the animals.

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Sanku Tsunke, the communications manager at the department of correctional services, Leeuwkop Management Area, explained they received an approval of culling of game, blesbok and fallow deer, in the prison’s management area.

Tsunke said: “The culling of the bucks was because they are in conflict of the agricultural practice at Leeuwkop, as they focus on food production in the form of livestock and crops, therefore removing the wild animals is favourable for the farm. These animals feed on our crops and jeopardise our vegetable production.”

The SPCA’s national inspector of wildlife protection unit, Arno de Klerk, also confirmed the prison had a permit, but added the SPCA would work closely with the prison staff and monitor the culling of the next group of animals in the area, in a bid to ensure that correct procedures were followed according to the Animal Protection Act.