Poachers decimate Red Sands wildlife
Poachers are decimating the wildlife in the bush adjacent to Bernadotte Road in the area known as Red Sands.
Lee Lewis, who resides close to Red Sands, said the poachers are teenage boys who hunt with a pack of dogs. “The group can vary from three to five boys, or even more. They strike early in the morning at about 4am or as early as 2.30am when it’s a full moon, when they think people notice,” said Lee. “Their dogs are starved to make them more effective at hunting.”
Lee has followed the poachers in her vehicle at times and has even confronted them on one occasion. “They were watering their dogs at a church in the area one Saturday morning and I went and spoke to them. When I asked them why they were hunting in the area, they replied their dogs are hungry. I said I would feed their dogs and went home to get food, but when I returned they had disappeared.
They are not hunting to feed themselves or their dogs. I was told many of these animals’ body parts end up for sale in Warwick Junction, to be used by witchdoctors. I know hunting is a Zulu tradition, but they can’t hunt in a conservation area.”
Red Sands boasts amazing wildlife, including blue duiker, which are protected, and otters. Lee recently found a porcupine bludgeoned to death near Toti Primary School.
“The problem is the poachers are underage,” said Lee. “Since they are juveniles, there is not much that can be done in terms of the law. The police won’t do anything about it. These poachers are slowly but surely decimating the wildlife left in Red Sands.”
The Sun contacted Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to inform it of the poaching problem. A 24-hour emergency number 082-559-2846 was supplied to contact the officer on duty when the problem arises again and officers will arrest any suspects they find poaching in the area. “This will help a lot,” said Lee. “We are grateful for Ezemvelo’s help.”
