One does not expect to encounter notoriously shy and nocturnal aardvarks in built-up areas, but that is exactly what happened in Secunda.

The first was seen found at a home in Krokodilrivier Street near Laerskool Kruinpark on February 27, and the second at a house in Harding Street on March 1.

When responding to the call in the early hours of February 27, GTR Towing’s Wesley Brits said it was an unbelievable experience to see such a creature up close.

He said it was his first encounter with an aardvark.

Well-known snake handler and local police officer, Warrant Officer Oosie Oosthuizen, with the help of Hein Alberts and members of the Secunda Community Policing Forum, responded to a call for assistance from Brits.

W/O Oosthuizen said she was just as stunned.

“This was one of two aardvark sightings that happened over two days. It is not known exactly where they came from,” said  Oosthuizen.

She said the sightings were very uncommon.

“According to my knowledge, this is the first time aardvark sightings have been reported in Secunda. I didn’t even know we had such species here. It was one of the most interesting callouts I have had in years,” said Oosthuizen.

After successfully capturing both animals, they were handed over to ecologist Daan Loock and was released into Sasol’s game camp. Loock also supplied the cages and nets required to capture both animals.

“Although they are very elusive, it does not mean they are not there.”

“We might not see them, but there are aardvarks in the area, especially where there is sandy soil which is the ideal habitat for them,” said Loock.

He said that Secunda was designed to have green strips or parks all over town and that these areas are ideal transition zones for wild animals to move through the area.

“We have noticed that servals and other wildlife use these transition zones to migrate from one area to another,” explained Loock.

He said that although the aardvark is not known to be dangerous it can still scratch or even injure a human.

There are laws that protect such wildlife and that prohibit their capturing.

“By law, you are not allowed to capture such wildlife without the proper permits. In this instance, we engaged with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MPTA). A regular person is not allowed to capture them without a permit,” warned Loock.