Redford Conservancy Newsletter – November 2012
Bushpig Steeplechase in The Crags
We have often had signs of bushpig on our farm, but never a sighting. That changed dramatically in August 2012. Late one evening we let our dogs out for their last jaunt around the garden, and were alerted to a bushpig in the shed. On investigating carefully, all we could see was its back, as it was firmly tucked into a pile of gardening supplies, apparently sleeping. Not wanting to have it in there, we got it woken up and it hurtled out at speed, breaching the corrugated sheet wall of the shed as it went.
The next night it was back, and the one after. On the third day it stayed in the shed, and it was evidently lethargic and unwell. It now had its head turned towards us, with eyes, ears and snout partially visible, and unconcerned about the people around. It simply watched as we moved around and I even got up close enough to take some photographs. Later in the day our senior worker told me that it had a wire snare around its snout, buried deep in a skin groove and not visible till the pig turned its head to reveal the twist in the copper wire. I placed a call to Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre to ask for advice, and was able to speak to Jared, who promptly packed up his kit and came to help.
Suddenly the bushpig turned and saw Jared, changed direction and instead went after him, still squealing. Jared hurdled various obstacles in quick succession, the pig nipping at his legs, till it saw the break and once again went out through the wall of the shed. We thought we had seen the last of the bushpig, but it was back again the same night, rooting in the arum lilies that it must have spent much time salivating over while it couldn’t eat normally. It clearly did not harbour a grudge!
We commended Jared on his Olympian efforts – he went off back to Tenikwa with a story to tell, though unfortunately there was no record of his steeplechase as the speed at which it happened precluded any photos of the action! We were very grateful for the help that we had from Tenikwa – it is so reassuring to have them close to us, and so willing to help when it concerns an injured or threatened animal. Snares are such a cruel torture, an unforgiveably cruel way to try to catch a creature – we were very happy to have been able to help to give this piggy back its life. Or so we thought, as the story didn’t end there…………
Within a couple of days we were aware that the bushpig had not left us for good. It was back in the shed, under the same pile of sacking that it previously had annexed, and pretty much immobile during the working day. We monitored it for two or three days, and then called Jared up again at Tenikwa, as it appeared to be really unwell. This time the full team came out to help – Magdalena, the vet, Jared and Kim. They brought a full medical kit and a large cage with a trapdoor. Magdalena took charge and in a short time had Kim holding an ethersoaked dressing to the snout of the pig to sedate it while she assessed it. After determining that it was in poor condition and definitely in need of help, everyone lent a hand and with some difficulty, as in its sedated state the bushpig was awkward and heavy to manoeuvre, heaved the pig into the cage.
It woke up during the process, and there was much squealing and cage-banging while the crew lifted the cage onto a trolley and got it out to the van. We were left with no uncertainty about how dangerous any attack on one of us could have been. Magdalena was pessimistic about the health of the bushpig – she said it was old and emaciated, its malnourishment clearly dating from well before it was caught in the snare. She was unsure what could be done for it, but was going to check it out carefully back at Tenikwa.
We subsequently heard that despite intensive treatment for a couple of days, the bushpig developed organ failure and did not survive. We were saddened by that, but glad that it had been looked after at the end of its life. On reflection it appeared that it may have been captive and partly domesticated earlier in its life, as it was a castrated male, and its condition may well have been due to an inability to forage for itself after a sudden release back to the wild. This could also explain why it took up residence in our shed; a totally unlikely thing for a truly wild bushpig to do.
It was a sad end to the story, but we are gladdened to have got to know members of the very special team that works at Tenikwa in service of our wildlife. Thank you to all of you – your dedication is enormously appreciated.
Sharon and Neil van Hees
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