Double the trouble at Raptor Rescue
PLETTENBERG BAY - A yellow-billed kite that was stolen from Raptor Rescue along with an American black vulture last week, has been returned to his enclosure.
This was the only bright moment in a weekend of setbacks for Raptor Rescue at The Heath, along the N2 highway. While the vulture is still missing after a bizarre break-in on Wednesday 13 September, a further disaster befell the centre when a large tree was blown over in a heavy wind storm on Friday, damaging a fish eagle enclosure and injuring one of the fish eagles, that had to be treated for a broken wing.
Fears have been expressed by co-owner Laura Fotheringham that the vulture, which is still missing, might have been taken for muti. She hailed the return of Capone as "amazing" but is still saddened that there is no sign of the vulture.
Capone was spotted at the nearby Echotrack K9 Training & Kennels (5km from Raptor Rescue on the N2 towards Knysna) on Sunday 17 September.
Fotheringham and her Raptor Rescue partner Mark Robson raced to the spot where Capone was seen and after a few nervous acrobatic manoeuvres, Robson enticed the bird to sit on his glove. "It settled for a few minutes and we were able to box him and bring him home," said Fotheringham. After the tree damage and the break-in Raptor Rescue was closed, but will reopen to the public on Saturday 23 September.
"We are so pleased to have him [Capone] home. He's doing well and he's settling in," Fotheringham said. "He needs time to destress, and put some weight back on."
She thanked Courtney Mansfield and her employee, Tapiwa, from Echotrack K9 Training & Kennels for alerting them and helping them get him back.
"We suspect that Capone might have escaped from a second location, and that he was making his way back to us. He may have recognised the similar structures, fencing, open areas and perhaps the sound of the dogs at the kennels, mistaking it for our centre and our dogs, which led him to stop there. Capone is a free flighted bird and had he escaped at the centre he would have stayed in the immediate area. Both birds' enclosures were forcibly broken into and birds removed."
Fotheringham says they have updated the police and CapeNature as they are still missing Blackie, their American black vulture. "If anyone has any information, please contact us on 078 135 3611. A cash reward is offered.
“We want her home safely please." She has appealed for donations to upgrade security at Raptor Rescue following the break-in, saying the centre needed to improve security around its perimeter fence and install cameras and alarms for added protection.