Animal centres decry big bang season
WITH the annual fireworks season underway, the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) and Durban and Coast SPCA urge people to think about animals before setting off big bangs.
“With year-end festivities and festivals just around the corner, many residents in KZN wait in anticipation for the fireworks season. While these spectacular displays will bring joy to thousands of spectators, at the same time they reign terror upon the region’s wildlife,” said CROW’s marketing and communications officer, Sharl Els.
CROW and the SPCA ask community members to think about the impact on both domestic and wild animals.
The Southlands area is also home to the Bluff Nature Reserve and Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve, which are the habitats of a wide range of wildlife.
“October marks the start of the fireworks season that runs all the way through to New Year’s Eve. During this time the SPCA experiences a rise in number of stray animals coming through our doors, and lost reports from worried pet owners start to pour in,” said Durban and Coast SPCA income development and communications manager, Lindsey Concer.
According to the SPCA, keep pets safe by having them microchipped and giving them herbal calming medication. When fireworks are being let off, keep pets indoors in a familiar room; close windows and curtains; put the TV or radio on to muffle sounds; stay in the room with them and act normally and give them something to do.
When fireworks are being let off, keep pets indoors in a familiar room; close windows and curtains; put the TV or radio on to muffle sounds; stay in the room with them and act normally and give them something to do.
Fireworks affect all animals, according to CROW. They can cause disorientation in birds, making them to fly into trees or structures; ground animals often run into roads in fear and get hit by cars while scavenging animals sometimes swallow firework parts and die.
“Over the years we have seen a spike in CROW admissions directly after an evening of fireworks, resulting in baby animals being unnecessarily orphaned. This is particularly common among nesting birds and small mammals,” said CROW director, Paul Hoyte.
CROW asks people to refrain from holding private firework displays and when displays do go ahead, they ask people to use low-noise fireworks.
“We ask that people rather focus on the light aspect of the displays and not the loud explosions. KZN boasts a high level of biodiversity, which is something we should collectively protect by making a few sacrifices in order to live harmoniously with all living organisms,” said Hoyte.
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