There is cause for celebration as a collaborative effort of concerned citizens and police resulted in the safe return of a Harris Hawk that was stolen from Crocworld Conservation Centre on 25 July. Two suspects were arrested for the break-in and theft which included a breeding pair of Jackal Buzzards and a chick, one of which was tragically found to have been killed, with the remaining two still missing.
“We would like to extend our huge appreciation to the Amahlongwa Community Forum, the Umkomaas SAPS detectives, and the Umzinto SAPS K9 unit for their concerted efforts in resolving this case,” said James Wittstock, Manager of Crocworld Conservation Centre. “Their tireless efforts led to, not only the arrest of two suspects but also the safe recovery of our beloved Harris Hawk who is now back at Crocworld Conservation Centre.”
The team from Crocworld in Scottburgh on the KZN South Coast made a public appeal for any information relating to the theft of the four birds which were taken on the evening of 25 July. The Jackal Buzzards formed part of Crocworld’s many breeding programmes to ensure the survival of threatened animal species. The chick that was stolen was due to be released later in the year.
Crocworld is also a member of Species360, a global conservation entity that facilitates the collection and curation of information on the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), the world’s most comprehensive database of knowledge used for the global fight against extinction. Breeding programmes, such as those involving the Jackal Buzzard, form an important part of this research.
After the public appeal, the Amahlongwa Community Forum received information about the birds, which was shared with the Umkomaas SAPS detectives. Working with the Umzinto K9 Unit, they managed to recover the Harris Hawk on Wednesday (13 August 2024) and make two arrests. The suspects have been charged with business burglary and theft.
Wittstock said the Harris Hawk was found tied to a roof, and they suspect she hadn’t been given much food or water over the three weeks. She has since been cared for at Crocworld and is now ‘back to her normal self’. He added that they are enhancing security measures at the centre to prevent further incidents, including the erection of an electric game fence to safeguard the wildlife.
“In addition to the power of community collaboration and dedicated police, this incident has highlighted how vital our work at Crocworld Conservation Centre is,” continued Wittstock. “While we will be increasing our security measures, we will continue to educate the public about the need for conservation and the importance of our wildlife to the survival of all, in the hopes that we don’t have to worry about such threats in future.”
The Crocworld team encourages visitors to come to the centre and welcome home the now-famous Harris Hawk!
For more information, contact Crocworld Conservation Centre on 039 976 1103, visit www.crocworld.co.za or ‘Crocworld Conservation Centre’ on Facebook and Instagram.
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Author: Agnes Matladi from Olivia Jones Communications on behalf of Crocworld.
