Surprise visitor

When news broke on 26 September that a brown hyena was spotted in Northcliff, social media was abuzz with sightings.

The animal was seen crossing busy roads and roaming the urban jungle from Northcliff to Blairgowrie. Twitter and radio stations speculated where the animal was last seen. As it turned out, the hyena took refuge in Olympic Road, Blairgowrie, hiding between shrubs. Resident, Jenny Blignaut said the animal was seen there at about 8am. By 9am, Dr Brett Gardner a veterinarian of the Joburg Zoo, and inspectors of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals arrived to sedate the animal. Gardner armed with a tranquiliser gun darted the animal. The effects of the sedative took a few minutes to kick in as the animal once again ran to the top of the road. It eventually succumbed. Gardner and a group of volunteers were able to inspect the animal and estimated that it had been roaming around for a few weeks due to the condition of its paws, and other tell-tale signs. Intravenous feeding was administrated before the animal was kenneled, and transported to the zoo for further treatment. FreeMe animal centre, which is based in Paulsholf, said the animal is a brown hyena which is usually very shy and retiring and therefore not a danger to the public. “Brown hyenas are nocturnal so once the animal finds a place to hide it will settle down for the day,” a staff member explained.