AUTHORS IN COURT : KALAHARI RAPTOR CENTRE TO CLOSE

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Disseminated at request of KRC

Roger Gould-King

 

 

 

Press Release 6th Sept 01.AUTHORS IN COURT : KALAHARI RAPTOR CENTRE TO CLOSEThe authors of the book "For the Love of Wildlife", Chris Mercer andBeverley Pervan, who run a well-known wildlife rehabilitation and carecentre called the Kalahari Raptor Centre, are in trouble. Their book isdedicated to "the vanishing spirit of wild Africa, and its essence themagnificent predators with whom Mankind will not live, nor let live." Andit is putting this dedication into practice at the Kalahari Raptor Centrewhich has earned them the wrath of the provincial Nature Conservationofficials.For since August last year, when they rescued three young caracal from afarmer who would otherwise have shot them, they claim to have beenthreatened, defamed, victimised, treated unlawfully and had their sanctuaryinvaded by armed officials. They have spent more than R100,000 of theirsavings in their efforts to protect and rehabilitate the little animals backto the wild in the Kalahari.After a gruelling three days in the Kuruman Magistrates Court, theMagistrate found Chris Mercer and Beverley Pervan of the Kalahari RaptorCentre guilty of keeping the three caracals without a permit, and sentencedthem to a fine of R1500 each or two months imprisonment, suspended for fiveyears on condition they are not convicted of another such offence in thattime. Chris was also convicted of transporting them without a transportpermit and sentenced to a further fine of R2000 or three months, all ofwhich also suspended for five years on the same condition.The Magistrate has also ordered the forfeiture to the State of the"Exhibits" (3 caracals).Bev and Chris have instructed their attorney to note an appeal against theJudgment, the Sentence and also the Forfeiture Order. The effect of notingthe appeal is to suspend the operation of the Magistrates Orders pending thedetermination of the appeal to the High Court." We are closing down the Centre immediately," said Beverley."With suspendedsentences hanging over us we cannot take the chance, even though the noticeof appeal has been filed, that someone will bring us a bird or animal ashappens all the time, and get themselves and us into trouble. The localVets who send us birds and animals for rehabilitation have been notifiedthat we can not accept any more birds or animals. The Tourism Office hasalso been told not to send visitors and no environmental classes forchildren will take place. Whether the Centre will ever re-open will dependupon the outcome of the appeal."The Magistrate accepted that the Department of Northern Cape NatureConservation had sent letters to the Kalahari Raptor Centre in which theyadvised that rehab permits had been issued, but held that these were mereletters which did not amount to a formal permit. The department has alsorefused to renew the Raptor Centres permit for the birds under care, sayingthat they were 'still under consideration' - since August last year.The situation in regard to the three caracals is parlous. In his evidence MrWessel Jacobs of the department stated that one was to die and two were forthe Zoo. It was policy to euthanase disabled animals and he did not thinkthat the two fit animals would survive in the wild (although he has neverseen them). However, at the end of the trial he was recalled to say that hehad spoken to Karen Trendler of Wildcare who was prepared to take theanimals and to assess them and decide what to do with them." And herein liesour difficulty," says Chris. " Karen is a very experienced rehabilitator,but our facilities for these animals are better beyond comparison. TheseareKalahari caracals and should be released back into the Kalahari. We haveidentified a suitable release site and cannot understand why the animalsmust rather be darted yet again (we know how stressful and dangerous thatwas last time) and transported to Pretoriato be kept in a cage to be assessed. Why risk breaking a leg with atranquilliser dart? They are in semi-captive condition ina large veld camp at present where they can and do hunt. Why reverse therehab process by confining them in a cage. They will go mad. We know ouranimals. Should the experts need to assess them we offer to accommodatethemat the Raptor Centre for as long as they need. The animals need to go free.They should have been released long ago, but that was foiled by the illegalconfiscation by the authorities and their making these little victims"Exhibits.As for the disabled caracal, why should she be stressfully moved from herpresentsemi-wild camp where she may live out her life in reasonable comfort, andtaken to a cage in Pretoria for an uncertain future. Surely it is now timefor the welfare of the animals to be given priority by conservationauthorities.We have therefor suspended the operation of the forfeiture order by notingan appeal, and will ask the Appeal Court to allow us to release the twocaracals back into the Kalahari, and allow the disabled one to remainunder our care.We will also ask the Appeal Court to declare the racist Problem AnimalControl Ordinance of 1957, which the department relied upon to refuse ourpermit application and which has been used and abused to blight ourwildlife heritage, unconstitutional."--Kind regardsBev and ChrisKalahari Raptor Centrewww.raptor.co.zaTel/Fax: 053 712 3576