The community of Durbanville is up in arms after a jackal buzzard, a fairly large African bird of prey, was shot — presumably by someone in Sonstraal Heights.
As a result of community members taking hands, the injured bird was taken to a veterinarian in Velddrif on the West Coast, where it was successfully operated on. More than R4 000 has already been raised by residents for the veterinarian and rehabilitation costs.
According to Keith Dalby, chair of Sonstraal Heights Neighbourhood Watch, he was contacted by a concerned resident on Wednesday (18 February) at about 08:10, stating that she had heard a gunshot. When she looked over her back wall, which borders Andrag farm (farm between Sonstraal Heights and Glengarry Shopping Centre next to Fairtrees Road), she saw the injured bird falling from a tree.
Recover the injured bird
“Our neighbourhood watch responded and saw the injured bird in the grass on the farm. We alerted residents of what had happened, and a resident, Gavin Marshall immediately responded that he would help.
He, his wife Lesley and two neighbourhood watch members went onto the farm after they received permission to recover the injured bird.
The bird was initially taken to Tygerberg Animal Hospital in Bellville on instruction by the SPCA.
Marshall contacted Tygerberg Bird Club, of which he was a member, and also the Owl Orphanage in Velddrif.
“From then on I was really just the conduit between the various organisations involved and transported the bird initially to Tweet Tweet and then through to The Owl Orphanage in Velddrif so that it could be treated as soon as possible,” he said.
“A plea was posted to the residents, and they immediately started donating money towards the veterinarian fees and the rehabilitation of this bird,” Dalby said.
Two bullets removed
The jackal buzzard was operated on yesterday morning (Thursday 19 February) by the veterinarian. Two small calibre bullets were removed.
The bird is recovering and is being moved back to the Owl Orphanage for rehabilitation.
According to information and CCTV camera footage, the shot did not came from the farm, but from the Sonstraal Heights neighbourhood.
A complaint has been laid with the City of Cape Town’s metropolice, as well as with Cape Nature and the case is being investigated.
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