Edenvale’s tiger chase yields nothing
“At the moment it is speculation, we don’t know if it was someone’s pet or if it came into the area.”
Update on February 1 at 15:00 – WATCH and LISTEN: SPCA and SAPS execute warrant in search of tiger at five properties
No evidence of a tiger was found at a residential property after members of the SAPS and the Edenvale SPCA searched the premises on Monday afternoon.
ALSO READ: WATCH and LISTEN: Sedation of tiger not confirmed – Edenvale SPCA
The search took place at a property on Cabot Avenue after a tiger reportedly got out in the early hours of January 30.
Once news of the tiger’s escape spread through the community, rumours and speculation went rife in the town as worry took hold of the community.
Although Gary Wilson of SOS Security informed the media that the animal was sedated and taken to a secure facility, no further information was provided.
SOS security would not share details of where the animal was located, or where it was taken to.
Despite the seemingly good news Edenvale SPCA’s inspector Hope Mokalapa could not confirm the tiger’s location or if it had been captured.
ALSO READ: Watch: Tiger allegedly spotted in Edenvale
Mokalapa explained that the SPCA needed to physically see the animal, obtain evidence and conduct a though investigation before it could confirm the animal’s location.
He told the Bedfordview and Edenvale NEWS that although community members had seen the animal and footage of it was circulating on social media, he did not see the animal during the course of the day on Monday.
He said news of the animal began spreading between 05:00 and 06:00 in Eastleigh Ridge.
“At the moment it is speculation, we don’t know if it was someone’s pet or if it came into the area,” he said on Monday afternoon.
ALSO READ: Watch: Tiger allegedly spotted in Edenvale
“Preliminary investigations are underway.”
The search for the tiger started in Eastleigh with the NEWS joining first responders on Cabot Avenue.
During the morning, there were numerous sightings reported in Eastleigh Ridge. All follow-ups ended with no results.
After returning to Cabot Avenue, a search warrant was obtained for the property by SAPS.
Edenvale SPCA’s Udo Salchow said no evidence of a tiger was found at the property.
ALSO READ: WATCH and LISTEN: Sedation of tiger not confirmed – Edenvale SPCA
Despite this, one arrest was made for contravening the immigration act.
At the time of going to print, the manager of Edenvale SPCA Marita Acar could not confirm if the tiger was captured.
She said the investigation was still ongoing.
Also follow us on:
