Reptiles abandoned at OR Tambo

2008-03-07 20:05

Johannesburg - Three animal transport crates containing endangered reptiles were found abandoned at Oliver Tambo Airport, the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) said on Friday.

NSPCA's National Inspector Alistair Sinclair said the organisation arrived at Oliver Tambo on Thursday after a tip-off and found five crates that were emanating a "nauseating stench".

Two of the crates, that were destined for Spain, were returned to Madagascar because the transporting agent had not paid the duties.

The three remaining crates, destined for the Czech Republic, were taken to the Johannesburg Zoo and unpacked.

Sinclair said the crates contained "hundreds" of snakes, geckos, lizards, chameleons and arthropods, contrary to the consignment listing lizards and frogs.

He estimated that about 10 to 15% of the animals had died during the five to six days they had been in the crates and he expected more to die of dehydration during the following days.

Sinclair said the incident "again" proved that animal welfare concerns were not adequately addressed by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

"The crates [that were returned to Madagascar] had been there for 12 to 14 days and nobody was bothered that these animals would eventually die," he said.

He said this was just one example of many where animals were treated as part of the cargo.

"We have to wait for someone at the airport to contact us. We can't go in as we like because ACSA requires each inspector to have a R387 permit when he goes into the warehouse.

"If we could go in as we liked, many of these incidents could be prevented."

- SAPA