Bushbuck slaughtered on the side of the road
The bushbuck that was grazing around the park was chased and slaughtered before Crow could actively intervene.
THE Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) was horrified after a young bushbuck was chased and brutally slaughtered by members of the public in Montclair before they could rescue it.
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Crow director, Clint Halkett-Siddall, said the centre received an urgent call when a concerned resident spotted the bushbuck running in the park on Wood Road. “Another caller informed us that the buck was being chased and had sadly been wrestled to the ground by members of the public,” he said.
Crow immediately sought assistance from Durban South Security (DSS), who responded.
Unfortunately, by the time DSS had arrived, the bushbuck had been slaughtered and its remains were being prepared for consumption.
Halkett-Siddall reported that no police officers responded to a crime in progress despite the severity of the incident.
“DSS and I confronted the individuals involved, who attempted to intimidate our team. I stood firm, and contacted Thabani Mthethwa, DA caucus leader in eThekwini, who secured further support from metro police to collect evidence,” he said.
Crow is now working with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to bring justice for the bushbuck. Halkett-Siddall emphasised that poaching wildlife is a criminal offence punishable by hefty fines and imprisonment.
He extended his appreciation to DSS and others who responded during this unfortunate incident and asked the community for immediate reporting on any wildlife poaching incidents.
He added that Crow remains committed to protecting wildlife and raising awareness. To report cases of poaching, contact your local police station, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife or Crow.
The devastating slaughter of the bushbuck highlights the importance of our collective responsibility to safeguard South Africa’s wildlife.
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