Dogs, cats, tortoises and snakes: How rescue teams scrambled to rescue animals as wildfires raged
Dogs, cats, cattle, tortoises and snakes — these were just some of the animals that found themselves in the crosshairs of devastating wildfires that gripped parts of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape in the past week.
Unlike humans, many animals can’t easily escape such fires, either because they’re too slow-moving or, in the case of cattle, because obstacles such as farm fencing inhibit their movement.
As a result, the various branches of the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) had their hands full as they pulled out all the stops to rescue animals in affected areas, including the Kouga Municipality, Mossel Bay, Overberg, Stanford and Gqeberha.
“Large-scale fires pose serious risks not only to human life but also to domestic, farm and wild animals. As emergency evacuations were implemented, many residents were forced to flee their homes and farms, leaving animals particularly vulnerable,” the NSPCA said.
The animal welfare organisation also deployed its national Disaster Response Team to the hardest-hit areas, including Kouga and Gqeberha. Working together with local organisations, NSPCA officials traversed large areas in search of animals that were injured, disoriented or dehydrated.
A wide variety of animals were assisted, from birds to snakes, cats, dogs, farm animals, and even tortoises and snails. Animals were moved to safety where possible, and euthanasia was performed only in cases where it was deemed necessary due to severe injury.
Sadly, the Panthera Africa sanctuary and rehabilitation centre was forced to evacuate its large predators; however, the animals were successfully translocated, with only one succumbing to smoke inhalation.
“Despite the significant impact these fires have had on people, animals and infrastructure, the collective response from welfare organisations, emergency services and volunteers demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting lives during times of crisis,” the NSPCA said.
The wildfires that raged through the Eastern and Western Cape this week also caused significant disruption and property damage.
Residents in areas such as Mossel Bay, Aalwyndal, Island View and Vakansieplaas were forced to evacuate their homes as fast-moving blazes spread through residential and farming areas, destroying multiple structures, vehicles and other property, and injuring several firefighters.
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