Pretoria - The giraffe which survived a horror bridge accident on the N1 is “eating and doing fine”.
“She is doing really well,” said Rick Allen of the Tshwane SPCA.
He said a team had been out to check on the animal, which is being held in quarantine for a few weeks at a wildlife veterinary clinic east of the city.
She was one of two giraffes being transported on the N1 north in an open-top box from the Meyersdal Eco Estate last Thursday.
Horrified motorists saw one giraffe strike its head as the vehicle passed beneath the Garsfontein Road bridge. The giraffe died due to head trauma.
The SPCA is also investigating the death of another giraffe in an incident it says is related. The giraffe, which was also due to be transported, died during the capture process.
The SPCA in Alberton confirmed the animal’s death, which was apparently due to stress.
Allen said a meeting was held on Thursday with relevant parties and the giraffe would not be transported before the SPCA was informed and had consented to the means of transport.
Allen said while the SPCA was investigating the deaths, Nature Conservation was investigating where the animals were being transported to and if the intended owner had the correct permits.
“Nature Conservation will be deciding on the (remaining) animal’s future,” he said.
Pretoria News