Kimberley - The body of an abandoned newborn baby was found at a dumping site near a playground in John Daka Road, Galeshewe, after a pack of stray dogs had apparently eaten some of the body parts.
Eyewitnesses said they were shocked that the arms and legs of the baby were missing and added that the dogs had eaten away the flesh because the baby’s ribs were exposed.
“The baby could not have been born without arms and legs. It was found lying on its side and it did not appear to be a foetus but a newborn baby that was carried to full term.
“It is impossible to tell the sex of the baby because large chunks of flesh had been eaten away. The dogs must have licked away the blood and parts of the placenta that were still visible,” eyewitnesses said.
A young boy living in the area saw a pack of dogs fighting on Friday morning but said he did not investigate the incident.
Other neighbours said they could not bear to look at the half-eaten body.
Residents in the area added that they were conducting their own investigations in an attempt to identify the mother.
“It is too painful to understand why the baby was discarded amongst the refuse bags because it never asked to be brought into this world. No one knows how the baby got there because it was not in a black bag unless the dogs had torn away the plastic.”
An animal expert said that it was not uncommon for stray dogs to consume a human corpse or any carcass if they were scavenging for food.
“The dogs might have been attracted to the body by the smell of rotting flesh. If desperate for food, a wild dog may also attack and kill a defenceless baby if it does not scream or scare them off. As a carnivorous predator, it is a matter of survival.”
The police in Galeshewe are investigating a case of concealment of birth.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant Sergio Kock, said a stray dog apparently dragged the body from a black bag at about 7am on Friday.
“The gender of the baby could not be established because the body was already in an advanced state of decomposition,” he said.
The police request anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Chrisna Von Welliegh, on 082 469 0547.
“No arrests have been made yet but the investigation continues,” Kock added.
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