Hunter becomes the hunted
Fed up with the destruction left in his wake, Terry Rens of the eMdloti UIP says residents have taken a stand against the notorious hunter.
EMDLOTI residents are fed up with an alleged hunter who has been killing their fauna and destroying their indigenous flora. With his four-wheeler and lethal crossbow, the man has primarily raided the protected coastal forest behind the beach town, said Terry Rens of the eMdloti Urban Improvement Project (UIP).
“It has escalated now,” said a frustrated Rens. “We are no longer simply battling snares, but lethal, specialised weapons. The buck stand absolutely no chance,” she added.
According to Rens the concern not only involved the local wildlife but also for community members. “What if he accidentally shoots someone while he is hunting?” she asked.
The hunter has been spotted by security and locals alike in recent weeks, however, Rens suspects that he has been operating in the area for the last six months.
Her suspicions are motivated by the fact that he has ‘carved’ an extensive pathway for himself within the protected forest, culling any indigenous vegetation in his wake – this included an endangered Milkwood tree.
She said the town has been on full alert, keeping their eyes and ears peeled for the notorious hunter. Security has also been beefed up in an effort to catch the man.
“Authorities have attempted to stop his actions by blocking off all of the entrances,” she said.
“This, along with the social pressure we have been putting on him through social media, has driven him to the Mount Moreland forest,” said Rens.
“He knows that he is in the wrong as he has constantly fled security. This forest has been placed into a trust, much similar to the Hawaan Forest in uMhlanga. If he wants to hunt, he must do so legally, by getting the proper consent,” said Rens.
