THE director of the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Paul Hoyte, has praised the efforts of rescue personnel and local residents who helped save a bush buck which was caught in an illegal snare on Chapman Drive in Ballito on Thursday evening.
Despite the best efforts of rescue personnel, the buck died due to the severity of its injuries.
Hoyte also condemned illegal hunters in the market for bush meat.
“We’ve seen a lot more of these cases across KZN. We’ve also had cases in eMdloti where this cruel practice takes place. The snare is a cruel and inhumane method used by these hunters. Usually, in their desperate struggle to escape, animals may be strangled, or may suffer horrible and sometimes life-threatening injuries, or a lingering death.
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“Our wildlife need all the help they can get and I’m so glad so many people took time out of their day to help the buck. We need more people like them,” Hoyte said.
According to Shawn Herbst of Netcare 911, the male bushbuck had become trapped in a wire snare cutting into the flesh around its snout as well as suffering a badly fractured rear limb.
“The animal was cut free by a member of a nearby residential complex using side cutters allowing a multi agency effort between Netcare 911, Specialised Rescue Unit of Ballito and IPSS Electronics to capture the distressed bushbuck.
“The wounded animal clearly agitated proved difficult to capture safely and the assistance from the Flag Animal Farm who have experience in the rehabilitation of wild animals as well as the Ballito Veterinary Hospital was sought. Sadly despite best efforts from everyone involved the animals condition worsened and unfortunately succumbed to its injuries prior to the arrival of the vet,” Herbst said.
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