17/01/2023
Tiger Escape – Daleside
In the early hours of Sunday morning the NSPCA was alerted to an escaped tigress in the Daleside area of Johannesburg. It is alleged that the tigress escaped the enclosure after the fencing had been cut by an unknown person.
Both the NSPCA and the Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark SPCA were on site. The remaining tiger at the private property has been moved to a secure location, further away from any residential areas.
The tigress remains at large. The NSPCA was on site again this morning, and will continue to monitor the area as the search for the tigress continues.
It is a matter of extreme concern that permitting (which is regulated by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in this instance) is not required to keep such dangerous and exotic animals in residential areas in Gauteng.
This lack of regulation has jeopardized the welfare of countless exotic wild animals, and placed the lives of humans and other domestic animals in the area at complete risk.
This tigress, which has already displayed the behaviour of a tiger in the wild, did not wander into a residential area on her own. She was unwillingly brought there to be held in captivity, something that should not have been allowed to take place to begin with.
As more and more wild and exotic animals are allowed to be owned without regulation, more tragedy is expected to occur.
The SPCA movement opposes the keeping of wildlife in captivity and will continue to take action in terms of the Animals Protection Act no 71 of 1962 where wild animals have been subjected to suffering.
