Culling causes distress in Marloth Park

MARLOTH PARK – The culling of game is taking its toll on residents of this holiday town.
The shooting of game among the houses is quite distressing. However, as one resident, Mr Jan Koekemoer, told Lowvelder, “It is terrible to hear the shots being fired. Even though the Mauricedale officials responsible for the culling, use silencers on the guns, you can still hear the sound of the bullets hitting the target and the death noises the animals make after being shot. But we understand that there is no other way out. There is no grazing left. Absolutely nothing!”

Culling was stopped for a few days, but resumed on Wednesday at 18:00 at Gate 1 and the contractor moved as far as he had to, to get the quota required, which was 35 impalas.

There is no grazing left. Absolutely nothing!”

A warning was issued on the Marloth Park Property Owners Association Facebook page by Ms Pat Wilmans, the chairman: “Please do not hamper the process, and if you hear any shots in your area and feel threatened or intimidated in any way, please contact your security company. Alternatively, contact the rangers or the LEO’s, all who are aware where the contractor is busy culling.”

“There have been reports of people running out of their houses, threatening the contractors and exposing themselves to bullets that are being fired. Please do not take this risk.”

According to the chairman, the official figures of the culling to date stands on 190 warthogs and 230 impalas. The total of kudu still to be removed is 13 as well as 20 giraffe.

Spokesman for the Mauricedale Abattoir, who does not want to be named, told Lowvelder that as soon as the school holidays are over, more extensive culling will be necessary to ensure that numbers are reached by the expiry date of the permit, which is on July 31.

Schools reopen on Monday, July 20.