SPCAs help save thousands of broiler chicks involved in fatal accident
Four local SPCAs and the NSPCA were all called to the scene to assist.
Multiple SPCAs, including Boksburg SPCA and the NSPCA, were on the scene of a fatal accident on Monday morning (April 12) in which two people died and a truck carrying 41 000 broiler chicks overturned.
According to the Heidelberg Nigel Heraut, the accident happened at around 4.30am between the N23 Benoni road and Jacobs Street off-ramp.
A bakkie, three trucks and a passenger vehicle were involved.
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Boksburg SPCA manager Vicky Finnemore said they worked alongside colleagues from Heidelberg, Alberton and Brakpan, as well as the national team, for at least five hours to manage the impact of the accident on the thousands of chicks in the back of the truck which overturned.
“We arrived on scene at about 7.30am. The truck was on its roof and it was evident many of the chicks were already dead or maimed due to being crushed between the crates which fell over.
“Many chicks were running around in the road and in the veld too and others were drenched in petrol, and as we were working petrol was also dripping on our heads.
“The birds were also overheating. It was a very hot day and they had already been trapped for hours. We had to work extremely fast to save those we could.
“Emergency services had to assist with breaking the one side of the truck open to enable us to get to some of the birds.”
Only half the chicks survived the ordeal, according to Finnemore.
“We euthanised chicks with injuries for at least four hours,” she said.
Grace de Lange, manager of the farm animal protection unit at the NSPCA, said the accident was a tragedy for the families involved and expressed her condolences.
The NSPCA, she said, was alerted to the accident at about 7.15am and she was on scene 45 minutes later.
“Staff from Eagle Pride Hatchery, whose truck was carrying the chicks, arrived and loaded the surviving birds into another truck.
“They were taken to the closest hatchery, in Bronkhorstspruit, and our team followed them to ensure the chicks were offloaded safely and that there were no more injured birds.
“The remaining 20 000 or so which survived were then transported to a farm in Brits that evening and again our team followed to ensure they were offloaded safely.
“We also again checked for injuries. Everything went smoothly,” she said.
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