News : Reptiles Abandoned at O.R. Tambo Airport, South Africa.

http://www.nspca.co.za


MEDIA RELEASEISSUED ON 7 MARCH 2008
REPTILES ABANDONED AT O.R. TAMBO AIRPORT
It was with outrage that an Inspector of the Kempton Park SPCA and National Inspectors of the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) arrived at a warehousing agent at OR Tambo Airport after a tip off, and found three animal transport crates that had been abandoned by a forwarding agent.
The stench emanating from the crates was nauseating. It is understood that some of the crates had arrived from Madagascar on 23 February 2008. The consignment was destined for the Czech Republic. A further consignment destined for Spain, which had also stood for a period of time, was returned to Madagascar on the morning of 6 March 2008.
As these animals were in sealed containers and OR Tambo was being used as a springboard to Spain and the Czech Republic, the animals had not undergone quarantine and therefore the contents of the crates was unknown at time of seizure. With the assistance of the Johannesburg Zoo, who is a registered quarantine facility, the crates were moved to this facility for opening. Staff of the NSPCA , Johannesburg Zoo as well as the Gauteng State Veterinarian worked throughout the night unpacking the hundreds of reptiles and other animals that were crammed into the three containers. Although the consignment listed lizards and frogs it was found that the first container contained a large number of snakes. Further to this species of gecko, lizard, chameleons and arthropods were unpacked. The species content is yet to be confirmed but the consignments included a vast quantity of endangered and threatened animals.
Due to the fact that these animals had been placed in cloth bags within the containers, without provision having been made for hydration and feed, a number of individuals had perished. Further mortalities are expected. Were it not for the intervention of the parties involved and veterinary treatment rendered, one can be certain that if the containers had been returned to Madagascar as was planned, all the animals would have died.
“I was appalled by the lack of compassion shown by all those involved with the importation and storage of these animals. It again proves the fact that animal welfare concerns are not adequately addressed by Airports Company South Africa, warehousing agents as well as the authorities involved in overseeing the animal trade in this country,” said Alistair Sinclair, National Inspector of the NSPCA.
Due to the mass neglect and cruelty in this incident, a case will be opened with the South African Police Services by the Kempton Park SPCA. This case is one of many that takes place on a daily basis in South Africa and around the world to feed the trade in exotic “pets”. This unscrupulous trade not only causes insurmountable welfare concerns but also depletes the indigenous populations of wild species worldwide. It is an unfortunate fact that animals are sent out of third world countries to supplement this trade on permits issued by CITES.
The NSPCA appeals to people working in the import and export business to report any suspected animal cruelty cases to the Wildlife Unit of the NSPCA or their nearest SPCA to circumvent the reoccurrence of a similar tragedy.

Angola, Luanda stray dogs

www.news24.com

Rabies kills Angolan childrenFeb 03 2009 09:11:11:530PM
Rabies has killed over 50 children in Angola's capital Luanda in the past three months, raising alarm in a city with thousands of stray dogs.
Luanda - Rabies has killed over 50 children in Angola's capital Luanda in the past three months, raising alarm in a city with thousands of stray dogs.
"This is something I have never seen in Angola before. The virus is extremely serious because it is like a death sentence to humans," said hospital director Luis Bernardino.
Rabies is an acute viral infection that is fatal when left untreated. It is usually transmitted through saliva in the bite of an infected animal, often a dog.
Children are usually the biggest victims of rabies because they cannot protect themselves from dogs.
Authorities in Luanda have struggled to contain the virus. Last month a citywide vaccination campaign was carried out, in which 100 000 animals - dogs, cats and monkeys - were inoculated.
"In most cases children die from the virus because their families do not seek medical treatment on time," Bernardino said.