NSPCA Wins Major Reptile Case in South Africa, Expected to Have Lasting Impact

This week a groundbreaking judgement was passed in South Africa, in a case of animal cruelty involving reptiles. According to the NSPCA, which opened the case, the judgment is the biggest legal win for reptiles in SA history and “will have a lasting impact in future cases of cruelty involving reptiles”.

Back in 2019, the NSPCA had received a tipoff about someone illegally keeping snakes in a warehouse, and feeding them live rabbits as prey which is also illegal. NSPCA inspectors accessed the property, under a warrant, and were “appalled” by the conditions they discovered the snakes and rabbits being kept under.

Major concerns included injuries left untreated, underweight animals, burn wounds on the snakes due to incorrect lighting, and the fact that live rabbits were being fed to the snakes.

“Three Southern African Pythons were removed from the property by the NSPCA, as well as all the rabbits. The Pythons were taken to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital for treatment, and the rabbits were re-homed to loving families by the SPCA,” said the NSPCA yesterday.

The organisation thanked the JHB Wildlife Veterinary Hospital for their involvement in the rehabilitation and release of the pythons.

It took two years of following up on the case for justice to finally be served.

The Honorable Magistrate Mr Maboho found all the accused guilty of the charges the NSPCA had presented, and sentenced them to the following:

• R50 000 fine for each of the accused or 5 years imprisonment.
• R80 000 awarded to JHB Wildlife Veterinary Hospital for their costs incurred in treating the pythons.
• R5000 for the costs incurred by the NSPCA for travelling to and from court for the duration of this case.

The accused are denied from ever owning or being in charge of reptiles or rabbits again in the future.

The Honorable Magistrate said he hoped the sentence would not only reflect the appropriate punishment for the abuse of the animals, but would also deter others from committing such crimes in the future.

He also alluded to the fact that a sentence such as this may contribute to ensuring that these animals are protected enough to survive for future generations to see.

The NSPCA fights to protect ALL animals and relies solely on the financial support of the public to continue their work. If you would like to support them, please visit: https://nspca.co.za/donate/