Hyena hunt on Olympic Road
BLAIRGOWRIE - A brown hyena had motorists in a panic.
When news broke on 26 September that a brown hyena was spotted in Northcliff, social media was abuzz with sightings.
The animal was seen crossing busy roads and roaming the urban jungle from Northcliff to Blairgowrie. Twitter and radio stations speculated where the animal was last seen.
As it turned out, the hyena took refuge in Olympic Road, Blairgowrie hiding between shrubs.
Resident, Jenny Blignaut said the animal was seen there about 8am.
By 9am, Dr Brett Gardner a veterinarian of the Joburg Zoo, and inspectors of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals arrived to sedate the animal. Gardner armed with a tranquilizer gun darted the animal. The effects of the sedatives took a few minutes to kick in as the animal once again made a run to the top of the road.
It eventually succumbed.
Gardner and a group of volunteers were able to inspect the animal and estimated that it had been roaming around for a few weeks due to the condition of its paws, and other tell-tale signs.
Intravenous feeding was administrated before the animal was kenneled, and transported to the zoo for further treatment.
