The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) and the Boksburg SPCA have achieved a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against the confinement of exotic wild species in South Africa. On Tuesday, 20 February 2024, two White Bengal tigers, held in captivity for over two years in a residential property in Boksburg, Gauteng, were finally set free.
These magnificent animals were sentenced to a barren, urban enclosure; trapped in a concrete jungle in suburbia, without a speck of grass or a tree in sight. With no freedom to express normal behaviour, the tigers became objects of human gratification.
The NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit, in collaboration with the Boksburg SPCA Inspectorate and renowned big cat veterinarian Dr. Peter Caldwell, attended to the Boksburg property to safely sedate and transport the tigers. The operation proceeded smoothly, and the tigers were relocated to an NSPCA Accredited Wildlife Facility, a sanctuary providing a habitat conducive to their well-being.
The tigers’ release was both magnificent and heartbreaking – with the tigers taking excited leaps to freedom, whilst interacting with grass for the first time. Their bounds were filled with curiosity of their new haven, where they can live out the rest of their lives free from concrete and confinement.
The NSPCA staunchly opposes the keeping and breeding of indigenous and exotic wild species in captivity for purposes other than genuine conservation efforts or rehabilitation and sanctuary purposes in facilities approved by the National Council of SPCAs.
We extend our sincere congratulations and gratitude to the Boksburg SPCA for their proactive stance in initiating this crucial step towards ending the confinement of exotic wild species in South Africa.
Donate to the NSPCA
If you are as passionate about animals and their well-being as we are, consider supporting our causes by donating here.
