Holidaymakers pull trapped cow to safety
Unwilling to watch an emaciated cow struggle helplessly to get out of thick mud on the edge of Lake Jozini, holidaymakers pulled it to safety.
AS the dry winter and drought conditions take their toll on the region’s wildlife and livestock, concerned residents and visitors have taken to doing everything in their power to helping the under-nourished, thirsty animals.
The Pongolapoort Dam, or Lake Jozini as it is also known, is the only source of water for many animals, both game and livestock, in the immediate area. Recent guests on the Shayamanzi Houseboat came across a cow stuck in the mud on the edge of the dam.
Not willing to watch the emaciated animal struggle helplessly for its life or slowly starve to death, they put a plan into action.
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With help from the Shayamanzi crew, the visitors rescued the cow, too weak to pull itself out of the mud, by fastening a rope around it and hauling it out of the mud using sheer manpower.
While many animals, both game and livestock, are suffering similar fates throughout the region, this cow lived to see another day, thanks to the actions of concerned holidaymakers.
Game reserve owners surrounding Lake Jozini are taking measures where possible, to help their animals through the remainder of the dry season, until the rains take hold and there is once again sufficient food for all.
One owner has gone so far as to implement 24-hour security patrols on the dam side of his property to ensure his buffalo do not get stuck in the mud when trying to drink from the dam.
While some areas in the region enjoyed as much as 50mm of rain on Friday night, the Jozini area received a mere 15mm on Friday and 3mm on Saturday.
The situation remains dire in much of the uMkhanyakude District.
