Eagle Encounters under the spotlight after raid at premises

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has, after performing a raid at Eagle Encounters, made what the SPCA describes in a statement as, “a discovery of grave animal welfare concerns” at the facility.

The animal welfare organisation reveals that during the raid inspectors confiscated six birds of prey, three snakes, and an Egyptian goose from the facility.

Cape of Good Hope SPCA said Eagle Encounters, a facility known for its captive bird exhibitions at Spier wine farm outside Stellenbosch, also advertises a “rehabilitation” service for specific injured or displaced wild birds and holds a licence in terms of the Performing Animals Protection Act 24 of 1935 (the PAPA). This licence grants a police officer, who by the definition of the PAPA is an authorised SPCA inspector, the right, inter alia, to inspect such facilities at any reasonable time. Denying entry to such an officer is a criminal offence.

“After being denied access to conduct an inspection, our inspectors laid criminal charges of obstruction against one of the owners of Eagle Encounters at the Stellenbosch SAPS in terms of Section 5 of the PAPA. A conviction could lead to a R20 000 fine or 5 years’ imprisonment.

“A court order in terms of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 was obtained from the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court, granting our inspectors, inter alia, access to the property for a thorough inspection. Upon arrival, Eagle Encounters staff once again tried to obstruct our inspectors from exercising their statutory powers,” said Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson, Belinda Abraham.

Once inspectors gained entry, the SPCA reveals, they found a shed where five birds were being concealed and kept inside crates, covered with towels.

“Other findings include two birds, a Booted Eagle and a Spotted Eagle Owl, which had fractured wings, with one showing a severe maggot-infested wound. These birds had been under the facility’s care for two and three days, respectively, without veterinary care. No drinking water was provided to any of these birds.

“Additionally, three snakes were also found concealed in plastic containers behind a washing machine inside the shed, also without water. The shed was filled with hazardous tools and open paint containers, indicating a hazardous environment,” the Cape of Good Hope SPCA said.

Cape of Good Hope SPCA Chief Inspector, Jaco Pieterse, added: “Despite Eagle Encounters’ claims on their website that ‘severely injured or poisoned birds are immediately referred to one of our recognised veterinarians, who specialise in treating raptors’ evidence suggests that animals have been suffering in their care for days without the promised immediate attention as advertised.”

Bolander reached out to owners Hank and Tracy Chalmers from Eagle Encounters on Wednesday October 10, for a reply on the discoveries made by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, but Ms Chalmers said: “There is prospective litigation against the SPCA pending and until the outcome of the litigation, we are not at liberty to discuss the matter.”

However, the facility earlier responded to the disclosures by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in a Facebook post and Bolander asked them for permission to reference this response posted on the Eagle Encounters Facebook page on Tuesday October 10 at 2.15pm.

“The injured bird with the maggot-infested wing was received by Eagle Encounters in that state and was admitted between midnight and 1am on Thursday October 5. Pain relief was administered immediately. The procedure taken is as prescribed by the registered avian veterinarian.

“It is to be noted that the Eagle Encounters team rescued the bird after hours in the early hours of the morning. The Eagle Encounters vet inspected it on October 6 and recommended euthanasia. Euthanasia is done by the SPCA,” the post by the facility read.

Furthermore, they responded to the animals in crates: “Birds and animals in the shed were in animal travel boxes and were placed there as the rehabilitation room and clinic was damaged by flooding (see photographs).

“Wildlife that is being rehabilitated needs to be confined in calm, dark spaces. The animals were being correctly held and covered to minimise stress. The animals were inspected by the vet, Dr Coetzee de Beer on the morning of October 6, and none of the animals were in distress.”

The facility went on to respond to other findings. “What was not reported is that these animals have direct access to sunlight and water during the day and do not remain in these enclosures throughout the day.

“They did not have water at the time of inspection as the vet’s instruction is that water overnight in an enclosure may lead to the animal getting wet which can lead to hypothermia and death which would be an animal welfare issue.”

Eagle Encounters also explained how the floods in September affected the facility and its operations. “When the banks of the Eerste River burst in the recent flooding, the flood waters washed through Eagle Encounters at a height of approximately 1metre.

“The centre suffered extensive flood damage and we are moving to rectify the damage as swiftly as possible and are thankful to all who have stepped up to help us.

“We will continue to work with multiple stakeholders and the regulatory authorities to ensure that all the animals in our care are managed optimally.”

But the Cape of Good Hope SPCA says they have warned Eagle Encounters on previous occasions. “The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has previously warned Eagle Encounters about their hygiene standards, housing conditions, and tethering of birds. The facility will now face further criminal charges in terms of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.

“Additionally, a complaint will also be lodged with CapeNature, the permitting authority, due to suspected breaches of their permit. Coincidently, the facility also denied access to a CapeNature official.”

However, Eagle Encounters addressed the issue of CapeNature in their statement and said that officials from CapeNature conducted a compliance check of the permit conditions at Eagle Encounters on Friday October 6. “The CapeNature inspectors who were on site found no violation of any of their CapeNature permit conditions.”

Furthermore they said Eagle Encounters have held a CapeNature permit for 22 years and for the past 5 years has been licensed under PAPA, when the legislation changed.

Bolander requested CapeNature to confirm these statements made by Eagle Encounters on the inspection and subsequent outcome thereof.

CapeNature responded and said: “CapeNature can confirm that, in response to a request by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, CapeNature visited Eagle Encounters on Friday October 6, to investigate suspected contraventions of the facility’s permit conditions.

“CapeNature’s inspections and discussions with the facility’s owners, staff, veterinarian, and the state veterinarian found that, based on all available information, there were no violations by Eagle Encounters of any of their applicable permit conditions.

“CapeNature would like to acknowledge and commend the substantial and invaluable contributions that Eagle Encounters has made over the past 22 years to raptor conservation in South Africa. We remain fully committed to our mission of preserving the environment, while respecting the rights and dignity of all concerned parties.”