Yoshini Perumal|Published
Residents are urged not to approach two impalas reportedly seen near Higginson Highway in Chatsworth, while rangers search for the animals and investigate whether they escaped from Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve.
Animal rights activists are concerned about the safety of the two impalas spotted running along Higginson Highway.
It has been alleged that one of them was captured and taken into a taxi on Saturday.
The second impala was spotted on Sunday morning between the Bayview and Westcliff section of the highway.
It is yet to be established if the impalas belong to the herd at the Kenneth Steinbank Nature Reserve.
Thando Nomatshila, manager at the reserve, said he received information at around 3pm yesterday about the sighting of the first impala.
He said before rangers could get there, there were reports that the impala was captured by three men, who put it into a taxi near the Bayview off-ramp.
“We could not verify the reports from the eyewitness who posted on social media, so we continued to search for the impala throughout the afternoon.
“When it got dark, we called off the search.
“On Sunday morning, we received information about another impala spotted in the Westcliff area.
“We then received reports that the impala was knocked near the Westcliff off-ramp. I went out to the area but there was no body or sign of the impala being injured.
“A team has been out searching, and we will continue the search until we find the impalas.”
Nomatshila said they needed the community’s help in reporting sightings.
He said they were still baffled as to where the impalas were from, but had not ruled out that they belong to the reserve’s herd.
“The fact that they are this far from the reserve leaves us with some doubts as to if they belong in our herd.
“During our last game count, we had between 35 and 40 impalas.
“Tomorrow (Monday) we are due to do this year’s game count and would be able to confirm how many are unaccounted for or if the ones on the run belong to the reserve,” he added.
He said if the public spotted the impala, they should not disturb or startle it.
“They should let the animal graze and notify us of the area in which it was seen.
“Impalas are wild animals, but they will not attack people.
“If they feel threatened, they will get a fright and run away.
“Now that they are running wild along the highway, in an unfamiliar territory, they can run into the road and get knocked, posing a risk to motorists.”
Pat Naidoo, an animal rights activist in Chatsworth, appealed to residents to refrain from posting unverified information of sightings.
She said this led to a waste of resources to search for the animal.
Anyone who spots the impala can call Nomatshila on 072 190 9612.