Tortoise slaughter under investigation

NINETEEN tortoises were slaughtered at the Table Bay Nature Reserve recently, alarming conservationists and raising concerns about the potential encroachment of organised wildlife trade in Cape Town.

- MURRAY SWART

The tortoises’ empty shells were found along a footpath near the reserves Environmental Education Centre. Officials from the City of Cape Town suspect the animals were “shucked and harvested” for meat or traditional medicine purposes.

Police are currently searching for two men who entered the reserve earlier that day under the guise of fishing.

“This is a serious case of animal cruelty and a violation of environmental protection laws,” said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews. “These beautiful creatures were brutally killed, their shells broken open and discarded”