An alleged poacher caught red-handed in Mount Moreland on Sunday, was released without charge.

The man was caught in possesion of freshly cut buck meat, a spear, a bush knife and snares.

He spent Sunday night in a holding cell and was due to appear in the Verulam court on Monday on charges of illegal poaching and trespassing.

However, the matter was not enrolled and the man was let off, reportedly due to a lack of evidence.

Residents are furious and are demanding answers.

“This is the problem we face. Nothing gets done!” said an angry Hayley Wagner who heads up Mount Moreland’s neighbourhood watch.

The drama started at around 4am on Sunday when Mount Moreland residents were woken by a pack of hunting dogs running through their village.

Not taking onslaughts on their cherished conservancy area lying down, two community members (who cannot be named owing to their involvement in high-risk anti-poaching operations) patrolled the area.

Their instincts and timing were spot-on as they came across the alleged poacher as he exited the bushes onto the gravel road they were driving along.

Wagner said the man was calm and had an explanation for the predicament he found himself in.

He claimed the meat had been given to him by other poachers who generously shared their spoils with him. Then, as luck would have it, he claimed to have found the spear and bush knife on the path.

Before reaching the road he claimed to have also come across the snares, which he kindly removed.

Community members detained the man until RUSA and Bidvest Protea Coin Security arrived to take him to the KSIA police station. From there, Verulam Saps took over the case as it fell within their jurisdiction.

The Mount Moreland community has been fighting a protracted battle with poachers for more than a decade.

Wagner relayed some horror stories of spine-chilling cries of animals caught in snares audible from the residential area, packs of hunting dogs ripping wild animals apart, not only in the bushes but also in the residential village, as well as animals caught in snares being killed by poachers. She said they once found a poacher brandishing a homemade pipe gun.

“Mount Moreland is such a special place and we try to look after it,” said Wagner.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife honorary ranger Aden Pontus said poaching was an almost daily occurrence in the area with the use of snares and hunting dogs being most prevalent, followed by the occasional use of firearms.

He said poachers mainly targeted bush buck and bush pig and mostly struck during the day. A few would hunt at night under the cloak of darkness.

Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.

Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.