Court nod for culling

RULING: OPPONENTS OF POPULATION REDUCTION EFFORTS IN PARK LOSE

- Jarryd Westerdale

The culling of animals in a wildlife sanctuary straddling the Kruger National Park must be allowed, a court has ruled.

The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) made good on a promise to interdict a municipality and a ratepayers' association that was blocking the population reduction measures.

The Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela ruled in favour of the NSPCA, compelling the Nkomazi local municipality (NLM) to act.

Tension between the NSPCA, the municipality and the Marloth Park Ratepayers Association (MPRA) had reached boiling point.

NSPCA's final demand to cull animals in the bush getaway park came in August, after reaching a stalemate with residents.

The wild animals were said to have become overpopulated, with several of them having died of starvation.