Ghost of the Hunt exhibition exposes greyhound cruelty and illegal hunting crisis in South Africa
A new photographic exhibition lays bare the beauty of sighthounds—and the brutal reality too many endure.
Through the lens of acclaimed photographer Warren van Rensburg, a haunting truth emerges. Greyhound Welfare South Africa has unveiled Ghost of the Hunt, a photographic exhibition in Cresta, which honours the grace of sighthounds while confronting the cruelty that continues to threaten their lives.
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Dean Bush, director and founder of Greyhound Welfare South Africa, said the images serve as a stark reminder of why rescue organisations exist in the first place.
Bush explains that while greyhound racing has been illegal in South Africa since 1948, illegal hunting remains rampant—and on a large scale. The organisation has long hoped to stage a photographic exhibition, hosted in the country’s only dedicated photography gallery, to shed light on the crisis.
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Beyond illegal hunting, the neglect of these animals also keeps the rescue teams on alert. Bush recounts work in areas like Westbury and Sophiatown, where many animals require urgent intervention.
“They remind us that no dog’s life should be reduced to a number on a betting slip,” Bush said.
“With your help,” Bush said, “we can make sure more hounds outrun their past.”
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