Eagle mistakes Yorkie for dassie
2010-03-14 22:57
Erika Ferreira, Die Burger
Patensie - A Yorkshire terrier from the Free State nearly died at the weekend when he was snatched by a martial eagle, only to be dropped onto a gravel road, breaking his ribs.
The eagle's claws also punctured the dog's lungs.
Max, a 6-year-old Yorkie, and his owner, Ellen Pike from Bloemfontein, were visiting Philip Fourie at the Tuinskloof game farm in the Patensie district, when the eagle snatched little Max on Saturday at about 11:30.
"We assume the eagle snatched Max from the stoep and then dropped him over there on the gravel road, because there were no tracks or marks around him," said Pike.
She and Fourie's son, Philip jnr, had gone to look at the cattle on a motorcycle when they discovered Max on the road. They also saw a large martial eagle flying away.
"It was terribly traumatic. Max was completely unconscious and was gurgling as he struggled to breathe.
"I was extremely upset. He's like a child to me."
Max was rushed to a veterinarian in Humansdorp, where he later had an operation. There was a 2cm tear very close to his heart and his lungs had collapsed.
By Sunday afternoon he was stable, but his lungs still needed draining.
According to Fourie, there are many martial eagles on his farm which have apparently killed lambs in the past.
"They also catch small impala and springbuck. The martial eagle is the largest eagle in Africa, with a wingspan of up to 2.9m."
According to Pike, the eagle must have thought Max was a dassie.