Injured dassie rescued from Corlett Drive
BIRNAM – The dassie was found to have an injured paw and was limping on its right leg.
Sandton SPCA rescued an injured dassie on Corlett Drive in Birnam on February 4.
According to the SPCA, the dassie was spotted by members of the community and appeared to be confused and struggling.
Inspector Xolane Mncube captured the dassie and took him to the Sandton SPCA Vet Clinic.
The dassie was found to have an injured paw and was limping on its right leg.
A decision was made to transfer the animal to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital in Glenferness.
Senior inspector at Sandton SPCA Stephen Maila said, “We transfer all indigenous wildlife to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital because they are an approved wildlife rehab centre by the NSPCA and they have the expertise to deal with wildlife.”
Maila added dassies were commonly found in areas that have large rocks and cliffs.
“They are referred to as rock rabbits/hydrax. They primarily feed on vegetation and they are browsers.
“They are no stranger to areas such as Sandton, Bramley, Lonehill and Braamfontein etc, and before most of the development in most cities happened, these animals were in existence and they form part of our ecosystem.”
He said dassies were not aggressive, however, if they were cornered or their life was threatened, they would bite.
Maila thanked the caring community members who reported stray or injured animals that were in need of assistance.
“Such an act of kindness is what we need in the society we live in and it is part of the prevention of cruelty to animals.”
Sandton SPCA assists all animals, from the smallest to the biggest.
Details: Sandton SPCA 011 444 7730.
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