Shark threat looms over ritual slaughters

LOCAL animal inspectors say the ritual slaughter of animals on Richards Bay’s shoreline not only poses a health hazard to bathers but can also attract sharks to the popular blue flag beach.

The Richards Bay and Empangeni SPCAs are investigating reports that people are slaying chickens and goats at Alkantstrand during weekends.

‘Chicken heads are found lying on the beach and last week a goat was slaughtered at the beach at sundown. This is reportedly a common occurrence,’ said Empangeni SPCA Senior Inspector Roland Fivaz.

‘These residents have no permits from the municipality to do ritual slaughters and they are not stopped by the municipality’s security services. This poses a serious safety concern for bathers.

Killing animals and draining blood into the water attracts sharks to the beach. Sharks will hang around where food is available. People from as far as Nkandla are coming to Richards Bay to do ritual slaughters,’ said Fivaz.

The method of slaughter is also being probed after one goat was reportedly drowned.

‘This is unacceptable. We will not hesitate to press criminal charges under the Animal Cruelty Act. We do understand that cultural ritual slaughters do take place but the method of slaughter is important. Construction is underway to transform Alkantstrand into a tourist attraction but unfortunately these practices will not attract visitors to our shoreline,’ Fivaz said.

Banned

However, uMhlathuze Chief Sport and Recreation Officer Shakir Hiraman said no slaughters took place at Alkantstrand.

‘A few years ago, this practice was banned at Alkantstrand under the municipal bylaws,’ said Hiraman.

‘However, about 90% of ritual slaughters do take place north of the pipeline including Soetwaterstrand and Five Mile Beach.

‘This sometimes washes up with the current towards Alkantstrand. No one is allowed to slaughter animals on Alkantstrand. We unfortunately are unable to manage the areas north of the pipeline. ‘At the same time, we must also be accommodating of different religious and cultural practices,’ Hiraman said.

Meanwhile, Head of Research at the KZN Sharks Board, Geremy Cliff said the concern expressed by the SPCA was understandable as animal slaughters on the beach were ‘not good in terms of human safety and bacteria contamination’.

‘Chicken heads will not attract sharks, however, the larger the animal, the greater amount of blood and sharks will be attracted where there is a larger amount of blood like in the case of a goat. We hope the authorities will look into this health and safety issue,’ said Cliff.