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Marloth Park animal culling saga remains unresolved

No tangible plan for the future of the Marloth Park animals has yet been tabled.

Some 168 animals have died in Marloth Park during the last quarter of 2024.

Despite good rains, which should assist in recovering the destroyed vegetation, this wasn’t enough to stop the perishing of animals due to sickness and underfeeding.

Despite having a court order instructing the Nkomazi Local Municipality (NLM) to immediately (as of November 22, 2024) control the animal numbers, no tangible plan has been tabled as yet.

“Nobody knows what the municipality is planning, and those who know, don’t want to tell,” was the reaction of an irate resident, who requested to stay anonymous.

ALSO READ: Marloth Park Ratepayers Association threatens more legal action to stop animal culling

In the meantime, the latest report on animal deaths in the park show a dismal picture that about two animals are dying per day, either having been shot or their carcases being found. In December, residents and visitors experienced a traumatic event when the carcase of a fully grown giraffe was found. According to the latest figures, 61 sick or injured animals were shot by rangers.

This includes, among others, 14 impala, 21 warthogs, eight bushbuck, nine kudus and a zebra. The carcases that were picked up included 31 impala, 21 bushbuck, eight kudus, the giraffe, a zebra and a nyala. All the animals that were euthanised were apparently shot among houses by rangers using a .22 magnum rifle.

ALSO READ: Marloth Park game must be culled – NSPCA

A meeting was held in December during which the NLM’s legal department notified the residents of the court order instructing the municipality to do whatever is necessary to humanely control the animal numbers. It also said the municipality should bring in extra feed and veterinary care for the animals. The court order was made on the strength of an application made by the NSPCA. At one point, the meeting erupted in chaos as a shouting match ensued when the capabilities of the rangers to shoot and kill were questioned.

Also contributing further to this was an argument that broke out when the Marloth Park Ratepayers Association once again threatened to take legal action should culling, especially among the houses, be used as a manner of control.

Questions sent to Cyril Ripinga, the NLM’s spokesperson, about when the final plan would be tabled went answered by the time of going to press last week and the online version being published this week. This will be published once received.

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