Rabid jackal on the loose

THE State Vet for the King Cetshwayo district, Dr Vanessa Meyer, has urged residents in the Felixton and eNseleni areas to be vigilant should they come across a side-striped jackal.

This after vets in the area received reports of three incidents involving a side-striped jackal displaying abnormal behaviour, which could be indicative of rabies.

Last week, a dog was attacked and bitten by a side-striped jackal in Felixton. The dog had been vaccinated against rabies, so booster rabies shots were administered.

The previous day, also in Felixton, a woman was jogging and noticed a jackal following closely behind her.

In yet another incident, a cyclist on a farm in the eNseleni area was earlier this week ‘lunged at’ by a jackal.

In both instances, the people escaped without being bitten.

With rabies on the increase in the district and KZN, Dr Meyer urged all pet owners to abide by the law and ensure their animals’ rabies vaccinations are kept up to date at all times.

The incidents in Felixton and eNseleni are 15km apart, and it is possible the same animal was involved in all incidents.

If a jackal behaving abnormally is sighted, the sighting should be reported to the State Vet on 082 8222557.

The animal should by no means be persecuted or shot, and certainly this warning does not serve as open season on all jackals.

Sightings, along with its location, must be reported through the appropriate channels.

This year to date, King Cetshwayo district has submitted nine samples for rabies testing - eight dogs and one mongoose.

Two samples submitted this week are awaiting results, while four of the nine samples tested positive.

These were all dogs, all from uMhlathuze -Mbabe (near Ngwelezana), KwaDlangezwa, Mpangele and eNseleni.

The Rabies Awareness Body in eShowe (RABIES) also reminded pet owners to ensure their dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies - a legal requirement.

‘Vaccinations are available from the state, SPCAs and private vets in the area.

‘If your pet is bitten, it should receive two boosters.

‘Though not a legal requirement, we would like to encourage the vaccination of livestock, as well as horses, against rabies.

‘Rabies is not new in jackal, and these beautiful animals should not be persecuted.

‘This is likely a spillover from rabid dogs in the area.

‘If you are bitten or scratched - no matter how small - seek medical help immediately.