HIGHVELD – Two rangers from the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Authority (MPTA) accompanied inspectors and staff from the Highveld Ridge SPCA to a house in eMbalenhle on 14 September after they were tipped off about hunting dogs being held there.
Their first stop was at the house of a man where the SPCA staff had seen the spoils of an illegal hunt on indigenous game.
Upon arrival, they found that the owner and his dogs were not there, but there was evidence that the man had moved his dogs as recently as that morning.
The MPTA rangers gained access to the house and soon found evidence of illegal hunting.
“This is a fresh rabbit skin that belongs to an indigenous animal,” said one of the rangers while holding up a tuft of fur knotted around a piece of wire.
As the group prepared to leave, an SPCA inspector saw a dog at an adjacent stand that seemed to be in trouble.
“The animal was lying in his kennel and showed symptoms of distemper.
“I could not leave him as he was suffering, but also posed a serious threat to other animals.”
Distemper is a viral disease which affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous system in dogs.
The disease is highly contagious and is airborne.
SPCA staff examined the dog and decided to remove it from the area under the Animal Diseases Act and left a note for the owner.
They had better luck at the second location where they found not only parts of a small buck’s carcass, but also a pack of five dogs locked up in a steel shed.
“These dogs are all hunters, they are lurchers and sighthounds which are the breeds most commonly used in illegal hunting.”
Although there was evidence that pointed to illegal hunting, there was not enough reason to confiscate the dogs, according to the MPTA rangers.
“We need to see them hunt or at least see them out on land in pursuit of an animal, because owning dogs that could be used for hunting is not illegal.”
The SPCA inspected the area that the dogs were being kept in and visually assessed their health.
“They are not starving at the moment and they do not have visible injuries.
“They have water and shelter available and without the owner handing them over to us, we cannot take the animals without good cause.
“If we had found them hunting, we could seize them.
“At least we know where they are and we will keep an eye on them,” explained senior inspector Jenneth Geel.
One of the MPTA rangers discussed the problem of illegal hunting with the Ridge Times.
“People do not always understand that this is not a small thing.
“Hunting is illegal in terms of the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act, Act 10 of 1998.
“In terms of s 18(1)c of the Act, you can be sentenced to a prison or ordered to pay a fine.
“In terms of s93(c) of the Act, if you are found hunting with your dogs, the MPTA may destroy the dogs that are found hunting.”
He warned local farmers to be wary of hunters.
“If you find someone hunting on your property, contact your local police and then phone us, but do not approach them as they are often armed and it will be dangerous.”
Earlier in the year, the Highveld Ridge SPCA and the MPTA worked together to seize a number of dogs hunting on a property close to the N17 highway.
The accused in this matter will appear in court in the next few weeks.
