Page 12 - FWG Issue 3_April_2022

Estate News

SAVING

DADDY

GOOSE

B Y ELMINE CLARKE

Daddy goose heroically rescued by

WILD SERVE and CALEB WEBB
(a Phase 1 teenage resident)

n Friday, 11 March, Sonja and
Otto Horlacher, FWG residents
and monthly donors to the Wild
OServe charitable wildlife rescue
organisation, called Dirk Engelbrecht,
CEO of WILD SERVE, regarding an injured
Daddy goose in Phase 2. It was limping
and looked like it had fishing gut tangled
around its legs. A few residents had tried in
vain over the previous few days to lure the
goose, to help it, but their attempts were
unsuccessful.

Dirk visited FWG on Thursday to assess
the situation and confirmed that the
goose had to be safely captured - and
quickly. Mommy goose has goslings and
if Dad became too weak to protect her
and the goslings another male goose
would then come in and partner with her.
Mommy goose was also distressed that
he was injured.

On Friday afternoon, Dirk returned to
Phase 2 and, with the help of Caleb, an
avid birder who had spotted Daddy goose
in a ditch, they quickly erected a net trap
on the banks of the dam.

Dirk then waded into the water and
started herding Mom and babies towards
the trap knowing that Dad would try to
follow them to protect them. After a deep,
muddy, slushy, slippery trudge through
the dam, Dirk managed to skillfully net
the injured goose.

On the banks, Dirk and Caleb quickly
assessed and injury and HORRORS…
the goose had two fish hooks firmly and
deeply entrenched in his leg and the
fishing gut had pulled deeply into his
flesh. It was also wrapped around his
other leg.

Fourways Gardens • 10 • April 2022