GEORGE NEWS - Dr Deon de Beer, a retired vet and partner in EarthPet, warns that advice from CapeNature that rabbits or hares found dead in the veld should be buried, is against the law.
George Herald published a statement from CapeNature ("Widespread deaths in rabbits and hares", 17 November) about the numerous cases of deaths in rabbits and wild hares since the beginning of November in the Northern and Western Cape.
Some cases have also been reported in the Oudtshoorn and Beaufort West areas.
Since then, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development announced in a statement that rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is the cause.
It is a highly contagious disease to which South African rabbits and hares have no immunity.
De Beer aired his concern over the advice by CapeNature on the burial of carcasses. He told George Herald it is not only dangerous, but also illegal to bury infected carcasses.
The legislation pertaining to the disposal of infected animals is discussed on the EarthPet website. It states that "... the bodies of animals that are infectious or contain toxic chemicals (eg as a result of being euthanised) must be treated as hazardous waste and may only be disposed of at an authorised hazardous waste facility (and must comply with relevant hazardous waste storage, transport, record keeping and safety data sheet requirements prescribed in terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act and the regulations made under it).
"The bodies of non-infectious animals may however be disposed of at a Class B or equivalent (GLB+) landfill."
George Herald sent a query to CapeNature on 21 November, but Petro van Rhyn, general manager for advocacy, said they were waiting for feedback from the new director of Waste Management, an external organisation.
"In the meantime, we wish to make a correction and ask people to please report suspected cases to their local state vet, the Endangered Wildlife Trust or CapeNature, who will advise on carcass disposal and any testing that will be necessary."
According to CapeNature, conservationists are concerned that the disease might also affect populations of the riverine rabbit that is already on the brink of extinction.
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