Beastiality on the rise - SPCA

2002-03-27 13:03

Nadia Sadovsky

Umtata - Bestiality has reportedly become a common occurrence in some Transkei communities and those who commit it claim they do it try to and avoid contracting HIV/Aids.

The manager of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in the Transkei, Bridget Engelbrecht, said on Monday more people were claiming to commit bestiality as they believed they would then avoid getting HIV/Aids.

"Bestiality is common in Transkei. It is happening all the time and local communities appear not to be concerned," said Engelbrecht.

Difficult to catch them in the act

Engelbrecht said the last two cases reported at the SPCA were bestiality committed with a pig and sheep. In both cases, the offenders claimed they did it to avoid contracting HIV/Aids as they knew animals could not transmit the disease.

"Since animals cannot talk, we have to rely on the community to report the cases. But, it is difficult to catch perpetrators in the act," said Engelbrecht.

She said the SPCA tried to educate people about the treatment of animals, but it was difficult as children were not taught from an early age to respect animals.

"People committing bestiality use the fact that they are scared of contracting HIV/Aid as an excuse. It is a ludicrous argument," she said.

Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Mahlubandile Mageda on Monday denied charges that people in rural areas committed bestiality to try and avoid contracting HIV/Aids. "Our campaign and the education department campaigns have educated people in rural areas," he said.

Spokespersons for the SPAC in East London and the Council for Cruelty to Animals in Port Elizabeth said although bestiality took place in the area, the idea that it was done to avoid contracting HIV/Aids was not prevalent.

- Die Burger