Keep your pets safe: Duiker, dogs caught in ‘hunting’ snares in Shallcross

Community activists are calling for residents to be more vigilant of animal rights violators, who set up snares (a trap) to catch small animals.

This comes after a Shallcross resident discovered a duiker, which was trapped in a snare and died. A week earlier, a dog had been trapped in another snare in the area.

Nishaani Naidu, a Shallcross resident, said: "The neighbours and I heard the dog crying and for three days we could not locate it. I called Mahendra Lillkan, the former chairman of the Shallcross Sector Policing Forum, who, in turn, contacted the SPCA. The SPCA came out twice and could not locate the dog."

Lillkan said he eventually spotted the dog.

"A snare was wrapped tightly around her body. The dog became defensive and tried to attack me when I got close to her. She was scared. I spoke to her and calmed her down. She must have realised I was trying to help her and she let me remove the snare.

"Once it was removed, she collapsed. I called the SPCA and sat with her for about 45 minutes, while I gave her water to rehydrate her. But before the SPCA could arrive, she ran off into the bush,” Lillkan said.

“This was not the first dog we rescued from the snare. Thankfully, that dog also survived. We believe those hunting duiker were responsible for setting up the snares."

The duiker died after it was caught.

Pat Naidoo, an animal rights activist, said Shallcross and Isipingo were hotspot areas for snares.

“Snares are usually set in bushy areas. They cause unnecessary harm to small animals and are cruel and inhumane. We advise people to keep their dogs and cats on their properties to avoid them becoming entrapped in these snares.

"Snares are usually set up for hunters to catch rabbits, duiker, wild boar and other small animals they can eat. If you see a snare, report it to your Community Policing Forum, so that they can escalate the report to the relevant authorities,” Naidoo said.

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