POLOKWANE – The Anti-Poaching Unit in Limpopo has launched an urgent appeal for farmers or livestock owners to mark their animals due to an influx in livestock theft, especially small livestock such as goats, sheep and chickens.
Not only does the marking of animals help livestock farmers recover their animals if they get lost, it also helps to catch poachers and even prevent poaching altogether.
Former Spokesperson of the unit, Col Alpheus Mokale, urged residents to regularly check fences to ensure livestock cannot wander off or poachers have easy access to their property. He said livestock owners should contact the police or local Community Policing Forum (CPF) to report any suspicious people or activity.
“Many of these thefts stem from a misconception that livestock owners do not work with police to report these matters. Although there is still some work that needs to be done to strengthen the relationship between livestock owners and the police, it is untrue that there is no communication between police and livestock owners. There have been several instances where this communication has led to the arrest of these poachers and even the prevention of theft due to timely information and action,” he explained. People who do not mark their animals are in contravention of the Animal Identification Act, 2002 (Act 6 of 2002). An animal identification mark shows to whom the animal belongs. If the animal is lost or stolen and is found, it will be possible to trace the owner. An identification mark consists of not more than three letters of the alphabet or symbols (characters).
How to obtain an identification mark:
• Download or obtain the application form from extension officers, magistrate’s offices, stock-theft units of the South African Police Service, or from the Registrar: Animal Identification in Pretoria.
• Complete and sign the application form.
• If you have not personally signed the application, you must provide a letter authorising the signatory to accompany the application form.
• Pay the fee to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at Standard Bank, Arcadia. Branch number: 010845, Account number: 011252871 or take the application form to the Delpen Building, on the corner of Annie Botha Avenue and Union Street, Riviera, Pretoria.
• Post the original deposit slip and the application form to The Registrar of Animal Identification, Private Bag X138, Pretoria, 0001.
The registration is placed on the national register of Animal Identification System (AIS) which means that an animal can be found after being stolen or lost everywhere in South Africa. The registration takes about two weeks and can cost around R120 per mark being registered.
