WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT: ‘Cowardly’ animal killer strikes in La Lucia
Four cats and six monkeys died after ingesting a highly toxic pesticide in La Lucia Ridge. Monkey Helpline is aware of eight similar killings in the same area over the past six months.
LA LUCIA residents are outraged after a ‘silent’ and ‘cowardly’ killer painfully murdered four cats and several monkeys with poison last week.
According to animal activist, Steve Smith, he and fellow Monkey Helpline member, Carol Booth, are aware of eight spates of similar killings in the La Lucia Ridge area in the past six months. Smith said they could not confirm how the animals ingested the poison but believe that it was left in a tray with food.
The duo believe that a single individual is responsible for the deaths. Smith also said that they assume the monkeys were the targeted victims and that the cats, who were beloved pets, were collateral damage.
It has been confirmed that organo phosphate poison, a highly toxic pesticide, was used in the killings.
“These animals suffer tremendously. They experience heart palpitations, severe respiratory distress and abdominal pain. It is a slow and painful death,” he said.
Booth added that the act of poisoning animals in a residential area is a criminal offense. She labelled the killings as ‘an abomination’.
The incidents were reported to both the SAPS and SPCA.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW
