SPCA thanks staff, volunteers and public for support
Since Sunday 21 October, the Garden Route SPCA has been working almost nonstop to assist in the areas affected by fires. From Heidelberg to beyond Plettenberg Bay, the SPCA inspectors and volunteers have painstakingly searched burning and burned areas for animals in need and they've taken in huge numbers of animals including dogs, cats, sheep, pigs, chickens, cattle and even a peacock.
During a day in the field last week, SPCA inspector Henrico Pypers noticed a herd of sheep battling in an area of thick smoke. He immediately contacted the farmer and successfully moved the herd to safety and cleaner air. Senior SPCA inspector Salomé Bruyns was with NSPCA staff when a burnt duiker was found and humanely euthanised. Having to put animals out of their misery is extremely hard for the inspectors, who all love animals passionately. Wendy Jones, chairperson of the GR SPCA, said, "We are grateful to the NSPCA for 'lending' us inspector André Baartman during the most hectic times and the three other staff members who each helped for two days last week."
Out in the field the inspectors came across a variety of wild animals. Some had survived the fires but now have no grazing. Tortoises, rodents and other small creatures who managed to hide and survive now have nothing to eat.
Baboons are evident on the outskirts of residential areas, as there is no food left in the wild. One male baboon has burned hands, but cannot be caught and treated. Accounts of sightings of different species of buck have come in to the SPCA as well. Nature Conservation has asked the public not to feed the wild animals.
The reason is that the animals must migrate naturally to areas where there still is vegetation. It is questionable if any such vegetation exists for kilometres in almost every direction… - Wendy Jones