Scramble to save animals from wildfire

RESIDENTS are tallying the destruction unleashed by the Somerset West inferno, especially its toll on animals.

Residents scrambled on Tuesday and Wednesday to evacuate dogs‚ cats‚ horses‚ cows‚ ducks‚ chickens and wildlife from the wildfires, which have since been contained. But many animals did not survive. On Wednesday afternoon, City of Cape Town safety and security executive director Richard Bosman was out with the fire chief, assessing the situation in Somerset West, when he saw a small grysbok under a tree. “I got out to have a look,” he said. “It had suffered burns to its hoofs as well as one ear. It also looked as if the fire had affected its eyes as they were closed.”

The grysbok was taken to the Helderberg Nature Reserve, but unfortunately it was too badly injured and had to be put down.

Bosman was told its eyes had been burnt and two of the hoofs had come right off.

“If anything‚ we saved it from starving and dying a horrible death‚” he said.

In some cases, there was little time to transport animals.

Animal feed company owner Lou Purcell had to chase 50 traumatised sheep down the street on Tuesday night.

She said most of the sheep had been recovered.

She also found two of her cows‚ which had been taken to a property nearby‚ roaming around Sir Lowry’s Pass Village. “Some sheep are still missing‚” she said. The home of one of Purcell’s employees was burnt to the ground. “He lost everything, but the community has already rallied around to get him back on his feet,” she said.

“He’s been offered a house and there are all sorts of donations coming through, which is amazing.

“I also have a free-range poultry business and we had to let all the ducks and chickens go, but they’re coming back slowly.”

Purcell managed to evacuate five dogs and seven cats in her car.

Six of her horses were taken away by residents and animal welfare organisations.

A primate sanctuary near Sir Lowry’s Pass had to release 38 vervet monkeys‚ four baboons and several dogs.

Sanctuary owner Pat O’Neill‚ 91, had no choice because the flames were getting too close. Fortunately, all the animals returned.