Cape warned to stop drowning rats

schumi

schumi

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Cape Town - The City of Cape Town has been issued with a written warning to stop a R750 000 rodent control strategy, rolled out in Khayelitsha last month, aimed at catching rats using baited cages before drowning them.

Alwyn Marais, an inspector with the National Council of the SPCA’s Special Projects Unit, issued the warning to the city, saying the drowning of any animal was inhumane and in contravention of the Animal Protection Act.

The city was warned to stop the practice immediately.

Marais said if the city failed to retrieve the cages used to drown rats, both the “perpetrator and the city would face charges of cruelty to animals”.

The city has already distributed 358 cages to residents in Khayelitsha and has not been able to retrieve a single one.

Health councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli said residents who had started participating in the project were understandably reluctant to return the cages because this method of eliminating rodents had proven to be far more effective than the block-baiting (chemical) method used before.

He said it had reduced the risk of exposure to poison in densely populated areas and had created work opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme.

There have been a number of reported cases of babies being bitten by rats in Khayelitsha in recent years, while in July a 10-month-old boy died after eating rat poison, which had been placed on a side plate behind a cupboard.

He had been playing at home and “somehow managed to get hold of the plate with the poison on it”. He was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival.

Marais said he appreciated that the city wanted to move away from poison, which could take up to five days to kill a rat and also poisoned secondary animals such as owls and falcons that fed on the carcasses.

But he said using the live trap cages to drown the rats was illegal.

Marais said the city had failed in its waste management in the area, while the community also needed to take more responsibility for its waste.
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More at http://beta.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/cape-warned-to-stop-drowning-rats-1936895
 
So poisoning them and having them die over 5 days is not inhumane, but drowning them is? :confused:
 
But they're street rats. It's not like they are dogs or cats (Sup, Ekstasis).
 
That is why I stopped contributing to the SPCA. Being run by a bunch of @sshole morons these days.
 
Piss off, Marais. You don't want them poisoned; you don't want them drowned. What do you suggest? Euthanasia by injection? Tell you what, why doesn't the SPCA trap them, sterilise them and rerelease them? Or, trap them and try to home them with loving families. Or, trap them and move them to a sanctuary. They're rats you muppet.
 
Alwyn Marais, an inspector with the National Council of the SPCA’s Special Projects Unit, issued the warning to the city, saying the drowning of any animal was inhumane and in contravention of the Animal Protection Act.
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On the contrary - section 2 paragraph c of the act specifically states "unnecessarily starves or under-feeds or denies water or food to any animal; or" is an offence.
 
Best solution is to let nature(owls etc) do their thing. Sadly though, this is SA so thats not an option
 
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ellyally said:
Best solution is to let nature(owls etc) do their thing. Sadly though, this is SA so thats not an option
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If only..

Except pretty much all the natural predators of rats stay the fek away from places like Khayelitsha because they become prey for the locals...
 
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Cape Town, Whats good?

I dont care about it being an "inhumane" way to kill rats. We all part of the hierarchy of life k, so lets not kid ourselves here.

Maybe they should look at banning medical tests being performed @ medical schools in Cape Town.

It is completely "humane" being used for research all your life, right?

F-ing hypocrites. I am at least aware that there is a hierarchy of life.

Those medical trials that involve rats save many human lives by the way, just a thought.
 
ToxicBunny said:
If only..

Except pretty much all the natural predators of rats stay the fek away from places like Khayelitsha because they become prey for the locals...
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It's not only there... My bonehead neighbour also tried to chase the Owls from the valley across the road. Superstition and all that... :wtf:
 
MickeyD said:
It's not only there... My bonehead neighbour also tried to chase the Owls from the valley across the road. Superstition and all that... :wtf:
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I love owls

There is an owl that i hear hooting outside of my room every right.

They are beautiful and interesting creatures.
 
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