Several packs of hunting dogs were unleashed on a local game farm this morning (July 12). The dogs quickly began savaging any wild animals they came across.
An adult kudu was chased by one of the packs into a garden in Chisty Place.
The owner, who asked not to be named, described the horror of seeing the petrified animal being mauled by at least 10 dogs. “The dogs were ripping the animal to shreds; parts of its intestines littered the garden. In desperation, the kudu leaped a six-metre fence to escape the dogs, but they followed.
“I managed to grab the kudu by its horns and pin it to the fence, shouting to chase off the dogs.
“It was then that one of the hunters rushed out of the bushes and smashed a massive rock into the kudu’s head. The dogs resumed trying to rip the animal’s stomach open. I realised that if I kept the animal trapped against my fence, they would kill it, so I released it. As it ran off, with dogs and hunters in pursuit, I knew it would not live long.”
At least one hunter was caught by the game farmer and NN security guards, and handed over to police.
The farmer and hunters fought running battles throughout the morning.
Also read: Baby zebra attacked by hunting dogs
See the Ladysmith Gazette newspaper on Thursday for a full, in-depth interview with both the farmer and the homeowner.
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