VIDEOS: Anglers foil poachers in dramatic Nyala rescue

RUTHLESS armed poachers’ attempts to bring down a Nyala bull on Saturday were foiled by three anglers, and desperate instinct from the animal.

The frightened buck made a desperate bid for freedom by splashing into the waters of the Pongolapoort Dam, as suspected poachers set upon him with dogs and a rifle.

Exhausted from the chase, the bull attempted to regain solid ground at least once, but the hunters and their baying pack of dogs were lying in wait.

He was chased back into the murky water, again swimming hundreds of metres to escape death.

Out on the water the trio of City fishermen: Clinton Woodley, Neil Prinsloo and Craigen Millingaham, watched the spectacle unfold with growing anger and frustration.

‘We were at the dam for the tiger fishing competition,’ said Woodley.

‘We watched as the hunters chased the bull and he jumped into the water, and again as he was chased into the water by the dogs.’

Woodley told the Zululand Observer they had heard at least one rifle shot go off.

Rescue mission

The three fishermen decided to rescue the distressed bull from its fate.

‘We pulled up next to him in the boat and attempted to pull him to safety,’ said Woodley.

A video captured the anguished bellows of the Nyala as one of the anglers grabbed hold of its horns.

Throwing all caution into the wind, the rescuers eventually pulled the bull onto the 21-foot boat and made for the opposite shore.

‘We released the bull on the Game Reserve side of the dam,’ he said.

‘Because we are all hunters who observe ethics, we couldn’t handle what was happening.’

The fishermen saw the bull off safely and then returned to the competition.

Later on, other anglers told Woodley they had seen the poachers taking pot shots at the bull in the water.

‘We were just out for a good weekend with friends. The mission didn’t take away from our fishing at all,’ he laughed.