The investigation into the euthanising of four juvenile owls at the RandWest SPCA remains ongoing, with both the SPCA and the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) awaiting the results of independent post-mortem examinations.

The founder of the Owl Rescue Centre, Brendan Murray, has levelled serious allegations against the RandWest SPCA, claiming the owls were healthy and could have been rehabilitated.

According to Murray, the incident began on June 27 when a SPCA inspector contacted him after four juvenile owls had been removed from an informal settlement.

Murray said such incidents are common, as owls often nest in roofs and residential areas without being injured.

“He asked me during our initial call if he should just euthanise them, and I explicitly instructed him not to. I told him I would arrange for a volunteer to collect them, even if it took a few hours,” Murray said.

A volunteer was dispatched to collect the birds. However, Murray said the volunteer was informed at about 12:15 that the owls had already been euthanised before staff left at midday.

He added that he later noticed a missed call from the inspector at 12:04 while attending another wildlife rescue.

“There was no indication that there was a time restriction on the lives of the owls, nor any communication suggesting they were in distress,” he said.

Murray believes the birds should instead have been stabilised with warmth and hydration until they could be transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

Following the incident, he lodged a formal complaint with the NSPCA on June 30 after, he alleges, promised feedback from the SPCA did not materialise.

“We want acknowledgement of wrongdoing instead of a cover-up and a commitment that this will never happen again,” he said.

Newly appointed RandWest SPCA chairperson Charlene Mostert said the investigation has not yet been concluded.

“We are waiting for the results of certain external analyses and reports that are material to the process. We remain committed to transparency and accountability and will provide further updates once finalised,” she said.

In a public statement issued on July 16, the SPCA confirmed that the NSPCA had taken custody of the four owl carcasses, which have been submitted to an independent veterinary pathology facility for comprehensive post-mortem and histopathological examinations.

According to the SPCA, the findings will help determine the condition of the owls, the cause of death and whether the appropriate procedures were followed.

RandWest SPCA committee member Brenda Eloff also appealed for patience while the investigations are completed.

The NSPCA, in a statement, has likewise confirmed that it is conducting a thorough investigation in accordance with the SPCA Act 169 of 1993.

It said independent veterinary examinations are expected to take several weeks and stressed that evidence must be properly gathered before any conclusions can be reached.

The NSPCA also reminded the public that local SPCAs operate independently under their own management and urged residents to avoid spreading unverified information while the investigation runs its course.

The incident continues to draw significant attention from the local community and animal welfare organisations, with many calling for greater clarity on wildlife handling protocols.

The Randfontein Herald will provide updates as more information becomes available.