Poachers caught red-handed

Poaching in the greater Roodepoort region has shown little sign of abating. As conservationists and rangers increase their anti-poaching activities in more protected areas, poachers simply find other open areas in which to practise their gruesome trade.

Just how far poachers will go to get their hands on bushmeat was proven on September 25 when the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA pounced on three poachers in the small wetland behind Retail Crossing in Strubens Valley.

According to the manager of the SPCA, Mandy Cattanach, a concerned resident called and reported seeing people in the vlei hunting with dogs.

“Our inspectors sprang into action and rushed to the scene where they made a gruesome discovery.

“They came across three youths and their six emaciated and tick-covered dogs. Upon closer inspection, they found the carcasses of five Greater Cane Rats that had been brutally killed by the dogs.”

SPCA inspectors immediately called the police, who upon their arrival arrested the three youths from Zandspruit informal settlement, aged 14, 15, and 16, and took them to the Honeydew Police Station.

The cane rat is more closely related to the porcupine than to common veld rats, with its spiny coat and rounded nose distinguishing it from true rats. Mature animals can be as large as 700mm, and weigh as much as 7kg.

They occur mainly along river beds where they forage on course grasses, and their meat is widely regarded as a delicacy, superior even to that of rabbits.

The Roodepoort Record has been investigating poaching in the Roodepoort region and has learned that the demand for bushmeat has skyrocketed, especially in areas where illegal mining is prevalent.

According to Cattanach, illegal hunting practices are widespread and these poachers are not always after meat, “It is a sport for them. A form of entertainment. They kill everything they come across. We’ve even seen people’s cats being killed in this way. If it runs, it gets killed.”