The Sir Lowry’s Pass Farm Watch, together with the support of surrounding estates, made a breakthrough in tackling the surge of hunting packs when they managed to capture at least 10 hounds during an incursion on the morning of Tuesday 30 July, but the handlers managed to escape.
Alerted to the presence of hunting packs on the high estates, Farm Watch mobilised its forces, and a relentless search led to the discovery of the emaciated and exhausted hounds, abandoned by their heartless handlers. The canines, in dire condition, were transported to the Grassy Park SPCA for urgent veterinary care.
Despite the successful operation the elusive poachers managed to escape, underscoring the urgent need for an increased presence of law enforcement. The matter was reported to Somerset West police who, in collaboration with the newly-formed Helderberg Rural Enviro Protection Unit, have vowed to crack down on this escalating crisis. (“New unit going after hunting packs”, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 22 May 2024).
“The canines were handed over to the Grassy Park SPCA but we found no traces of the handlers,” said the Farm Watch member,
Dog handlers usually target the area from the Grabouw side of the mountains in a range from the N2 highway to the lower flanks of Hans se Kop, within the ring of the Buys se Pad hill jeep track and on lower slopes down towards the Eikenhof Dam.
The Farm Watch assured that members are actively monitoring the area and will similarly respond to any incursions should they occur.
