GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Two leopard tortoises were rescued from severe neglect in the Mossel Bay area late last year, leading to fines issued to two residents for the illegal captivity of wild animals.

This week, Leon Rossouw, founder of the Wildlife Crime Information Network (WCIN), confirmed that both individuals had been prosecuted and fined by the authorities.

The WCIN is a regional, collaborative initiative aimed at combatting wildlife crime in the Garden Route.

According to Rossouw, the animals were discovered after someone had reported them to the WCIN.

Working with the Garden Route SPCA, CapeNature and the police's stock theft unit, they were able to find the tortoises at two houses in Asla Park.

The first one was found kept in a cramped enclosure without food, water or shade. It had a rope tied through a hole in its shell. The man (48) in whose possession it was had no permit to keep it. He was fined R2 500 earlier this month for illegal possession of a wild animal.

According to CapeNature's Luke Folb, the reason for the delay in issuing the fines was that they were not initially involved in the complaint and subsequently requested sworn statements giving details of the incidents.

"These were received in March, after which additional witnesses were identified and their statements also obtained," he says.

Such delays are not uncommon, as witness availability and new information can affect the timeline.

"At a second address, an 82-year-old woman, identified as a traditional healer, had tethered another leopard tortoise to a pole using a chain and wire. The tortoise's shell was painted, and a dog was also found chained to the same post," says Rossouw. The woman was fined R2 500 for illegal possession and R2 500 for unlawfully restraining a wild animal.

During a recent follow-up visit, authorities found a third tortoise, an angulate male, in her yard.

It had no access to food or water and was immediately confiscated.

All the tortoises received urgent medical care and hydration.

A growing problem

According to Rossouw, the illegal keeping, selling and abuse of tortoises is an escalating issue in the area. Many are removed from the wild and kept without proper care, often starved, chained or painted, and some are used for traditional medicine or even consumed.

"When people remove tortoises from the wild and keep them in backyards, they are signing their death warrant.

Tortoises are protected by law in South Africa, and it is illegal to keep, trade or restrain them without proper authorisation."

Call to action

The WCIN urges the public to report any suspected illegal possession or trade of tortoises. All tortoises are protected under the Nature Conservation Ordinance No 19 of 1974, and violators can face fines or prosecution.

Call or WhatsApp the WCIN hotline on 079 643 9556 or email report@wcin.org.za. All reports are treated confidentially.

This tortoise was found with a painted shell. Photos: Supplied/WCINThis poor tortoise was kept in horrible conditions.‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’