1 July 2010 11:46:40 AM

2010-06-30 22:22
Elise Tempelhoff
Beeld / South Africa

The National Council of SPCA’s of South Africa already contacted a veterinarian to examine the two hippos in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve to determine if they are really blind. A decision about their future will be taken thereafter, this according to Brenda Santon, manager of the National Counsels wildlife unit.
Santon yesterday protested against earlier reports that she knew since March 2009 that the two hippos were living in acidic mine water but apparently did nothing about the situation. She said that the National Council’s Johannesburg branch had to deal with the matter. “It is not that they did nothing, but that’s a different story” she said.

Me. Louise Joubert, founder trustee of SanWild, a rehabilitation and wild animal rescue centre in Gravelotte yesterday day said that it is sad that the National Council only decided now after 15 months to address the situation.

Joubert said that SanWild had already spoken to Dr. Anthony Goodhead of the Johannesburg Animal Eye Clinic to found out if it would be possible to determine if the hippos’ eyes have been irreparably damaged. SanWild had also spoken to well-known wildlife veterinarian Dr. Douw Grobler to assist with a possibly immobilization to examine the hippos eyes if necessary. Joubert said that it may be a very expensive operation to capture, immobilize and examine the eyes, but that SanWild would be happy to carry the costs in the animals’ interest.

She is further of the opinion that the game reserve should be shutdown and all the wild animals relocated as it is impossible to operate a conservation area while the only water source of the said reserve is being contaminated by acidic mine affluent.