A Free State man from Verkeerdevlei was arrested and charged on Wednesday for various contraventions after wild animals were found in a shocking state on his farm.
Members of the Bloemfontein SPCA, Virginia SPCA and officials from the Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea) visited the game farm on 31 January for an investigation.
SPCA Chief Inspector Reinet Meyer say nothing prepared them for what they were about to find during their visit.
Amongst others there was a 2 m x 1,5 m trailer parked on the property with a leopard inside.
“When we questioned an employee on the farm, he said the leopard had been in the trailer at the same spot for over five months. We immediately rescued the leopard. There were also two bat-eared foxes and seven hyraxes rescued.”
Meyer said the leopard was transported to the Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic in Pretoria where Dr Peter Cadwell took care of her. The leopard will later be transported to a sanctuary.
Meyer said the leopard lived in the dark trailer and was fed chickens through small openings. She was surrounded by her own urine and faeces as well as the carcasses of chickens.
On Wednesday 70 other wild animals were rescued on the predator breeding farm in Verkeerdevlei.
“It was a day of many emotions – the conditions that those animals were forced to live in, just broke our hearts. We were able to change their future and that made all the difference.”
Working from the early hours of the morning to late at night, the specialised team of experts ensured that each animal was safely captured, sedated and examined before bedded down in crates for their first step towards freedom.
Thea Smith, chairperson of the Virginia and Bloemfontein SPCA, praised the team for their work in the operation in a rescue of this magnitude that was well coordinated.
The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital and S&S Cartage contributed to help the two SPCA teams rescue and move the animals.
“Rescues of this nature are very costly, but these organizations are all committed to seeing animal abusers held accountable for their actions. Please support our efforts so this valuable work can continue,” Meyer said.
Linkie Bessinger from Volksblad/Netwerk24 reports that Hendrik Steyn (55) from the farm Dorasdeel, Verkeerdevlei, appeared in the magistrate’s court in Brandfort on Friday (24/02). He was released on bail of R1500.
He was charged under various contraventions of the Animals Protection Act Nr 71 of 1962. He also faces charges under the Nature Conservation Ordinance.
