Described as a “very sad moment” is what transpired when Bloemfontein SPCA Chief Inspector Reinet Meyer opened the door of a Hennenman house to discover over 70 illegally kept wild animals in crisis.
After the death of their owner, Bloemfontein SPCA received a call on 4 April 2024 appealing for assistance from the local conservation authority who indicated that a large number of illegally kept indigenous and exotic animals were slowly starving to death in their deceased owner’s house.
“Upon the teams’ arrival at the house, they found that a number of animals had already succumbed to starvation and dehydration but that over 60 animals were still alive and would need rescuing,” said Meyer.
Meyer mentioned that the rescue was extremely complicated as majority pf the animals were highly venomous.
Representatives from a Springs based Wildlife rehabilitation centre arrived at the house a day before and removed selected exotic animals for the purpose of rehabilitation.
Meyer further mentioned that the remaining animals on the property were carefully caught and crated by experienced snake handlers and then rushed to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital for emergency treatment by the Virginia and Bloemfontein SPCAs.
Chief Inspector Meyer then proceeded to track down the strange selection of animals removed illegally for “rehabilitation” only later to discover that the animals that were illegally removed were kept in the ownership of a private individual in Johannesburg.
Meyer confirmed that by 5 April midnight, the rescue and triage of all the animals was complete and all the animals were safe and given beds for the night.
“These animals will remain in quarantine for the remainder of their treatment and will hopefully be able to return to the wild in due course,” said Meyer.
Meyer and the Bloemfontein SPCA shared her deepest gratitude to the two snake handlers from Bloemfontein and the handlers from Johannesburg who helped removed the animals.
Compiled by Abigail Visagie
