The jackal buzzard, which was shot in Durbanville about three weeks ago, may soon be released after she was operated on to remove the pin from her wing.
Blaze, as the female bird was named by the concerned community, was shot on Wednesday 18 February on a farm adjacent to Sonstraal Heights, presumably by someone from the neighbourhood.
Pin removed from broken wing
According to Durbanville resident Gavin Marshall, who is in regular contact with the vets at The Owl Orphanage in Velddrift where Blaze is now recovering, the surgery to remove the pin was performed a day earlier than planned.
“It was a success and the pin supporting the broken wing bone has been removed, as well as the last pieces of bullet shrapnel,” he says.
“Jacques Nel from The Owl Orphanage has her back in his care. She will now be under observation for two to three days, after which she will be moved to an intermediate size enclosure which is not big enough for flying but will allow her to get some exercise and build her strength.
“It will take another few days before she is moved to a flight enclosure. If she is able to fly properly, which is expected to be the case, we will start making plans for her return,” he says.
Gunshot
A resident called the Sonstraal Heights Neighbourhood Watch on Wednesday 18 February at about 08:10 to report a gunshot and that she had seen an injured bird falling from a tree on the Andrag farm (a farm between Sonstraal Heights and Glengarry Shopping Centre). Keith Dalby, chair of the neighbourhood watch, confirmed that a case has been opened with the City of Cape Town’s metro police, Cape Nature and with the stock theft unit of the police. “The investigation is still ongoing,” he said. More than R4 000 has already been donated to The Owl Orphanage towards the veterinarian and rehabilitation costs.
- Anyone wishing to make a donation to The Owl Orphanage can send an email to gavin@accessdental.co.za for banking details.
