Residents of Glencairn say they are devastated not only for the way porcupines are killed by speeding cars but that a porcupine sign erected by the community had been vandalised.
Last week, a porcupine was killed by a speeding motorist, bringing it to four deaths in a year.
When Jaie Adriaens moved to Glencairn in 2021 the property she bought was used as a thoroughfare by one particular porcupine family.
“I’m new to the area and the property I’ve moved into is a space where porcupines used to visit. The previous owner told us before he moved out that there was one porcupine that always came to the property.
“I didn’t think much of it at first but soon as I moved in a massive porcupine was scratching at the door and we actually started to feed it. At the time we named him Stinky Majestic because of his size. After a few visits Stinky brought its mate and baby along.”
Adriaens explained that their property is not fenced off and is easily accessible to wildlife moving from the mountain in search of food.
One night in August last year, the majestic porcupine did not make his usual visit.
“He didn’t come that night and then we heard that he was killed by a speeding vehicle. I was so traumatised that I started a porcupine group.
“We are living in a conservancy and it is the porcupine’s natural habitat. They are very vulnerable and not aggressive. Some people complain about porcupines digging up their gardens but they can just put potatoes out for them to eat.”
In September last year, residents who formed part of the porcupine group spent R2 000 to erect two signs in Glen Road, Glencairn, to highlight porcupines using the roads at night.
Two weeks ago, a sign was vandalised when someone allegedly took a saw to it, cutting it in half.
“Glen Road is a very busy road and the signs are there for a reason. Porcupines have suffered and died there, if you drive slowly, you won’t hit a porcupine.”
Last week, another porcupine was killed on the same stretch of road.
“I love porcupines; two days ago another porcupine was killed while crossing the road. All the head quills came out and blood was everywhere.”
In a social media post Adriaens voiced her disappointment about the death of another porcupine as well as the vandalising of sign boards.
“I can’t actually believe people would stoop this low to destroy the beautiful porcupine sign that nature lovers of Glencairn raised money for and had erected.”
Commenting on the destruction of the sign, Lorraine Svoronos Holloway wrote that it was disgraceful behaviour.
“Could another location be found where it would be possible to monitor it in some way?”
According to Lizanie Teron, she saw the sign on Saturday and still thought it was cute.
“Ag no, drove past on Saturday morning and still thought how cute the sign was. Such disgraceful behaviour,” she wrote.
Adriaens says she is often criticised for feeding the porcupines.
“The porcupines were here before we moved in and they don’t receive all their food from us.”
She hopes that motorists would be more mindful of porcupines and wildlife crossing the roads at night.
“Porcupines only have two babies a year and there’s a lot of poaching going on here.
“The most important thing is that they cross the roads late at night. The speed limit is 40 km/h and yet people are using the road to dice and some people don’t act responsibly. If you knocked over any animal you have to pick it up and get help or drop it at the SPCA.
“I don’t understand why people are so standoffish with our wildlife. We have to fit in here, they also have a right to live.”
Meanwhile, in a statement last month, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA said it was time porcupines were given some respect, this after a porcupine was beaten to death in Retreat.
“The Cape of Good Hope SPCA wildlife department routinely gets called out to collect injured porcupines from roadsides after being run over by speeding cars or purposely poisoned by homeowners who consider them a “menace” and a “nuisance” for their habit of digging up plant bulbs and gnawing on tree bark in search of a nutritious snack.
“In fact, it is this very act of digging up and aerating the soil and debarking certain trees that means porcupines play a very important role in the design and healthy maintenance of the natural (and man-made) ecosystem.”
It further added that the Cape porcupine remains heavily persecuted across their natural ranges.
“Weighing in at between 10 and 30 kg with a suit of armour of needle-sharp spears, and with an attitude of an angry bear, our porcupines are not to be messed with, and yet while they deserve our awe and compassion, they remain heavily persecuted across their natural ranges.”
