A hadeda hit by an arrow in Greenside has finally been rescued and will make a full recovery!
Johannesburg, South Africa (03 February 2021) – It’s a disturbing photo that has been circulating on South African social media for the past week, but we can thankfully report that the hadeda hit by an arrow in Greenside has finally been found and rescued!
They have been called South Africa’s notorious alarm clock, but the indigenous bird is so much more than a noisy pest, they are part of our country, and their infamous sound is part of days.
The hadada ibis (Bostrychia hagedash), also called hadeda, is an ibis native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is named for its loud three to four-note calls uttered in flight especially in the mornings and evenings when they fly out or return to their roost trees. Love it or hate it, that sound is part of our country, and I don’t think any of us can imagine a day without it.
Well, apparently someone could, and actually did try put a stop to that call by using an arrow to kill a Hadeda in Greenside, Johannesburg.
On the 28th of January the “Owl Rescue Centre” posted a disturbing photo of a Hadeda on a roof in Greenside.
“We are trying to track and rescue this little guy in Greenside Johannesburg. If everyone living in that area can keep a lookout and let us know if you see him. He still flies pretty well.”
The Owl Rescue Centre is a registered non-profit company and permitted rehabilitation facility concerned with the well-being of all owl species and wildlife in Southern Africa – they were distraught by the incident and wanted to do everything in their power to try and help the bird.
The photo quickly spread all over social media with South Africans collectively voicing their outrage as to why anyone would purposefully want to harm our wildlife.
“Oh. My. God! You are joking!!!! This is awful. How anyone can do this???” – Paula Pit.
“I can’t believe someone would do this!!!! That is shocking.” – Helmut Camondo.
“What’s the matter with the human race?!!” – Lynette Kuster.
Within a day, the Owl Rescue Centre had located the bird, set up a feeding station and a trap to try and catch the little guy to get him the help needed to recover.

And just four days later, we are happy to report that “Arrow the Hadeda” has been caught and will get the veterinary attention needed to get him back into good shape and released back into the wild.
“Got him… this little Hadeda has become a bit of a celebrity over the last week. We will doctor him over the next couple days, and then he can go back home to continue singing the song of his people.”
The hadeda is a protected bird in South Africa, and if you caught hurting or killing one, you’ll get a hefty fine. If anyone has any information about this incident in Greenside, please contact the Owl Rescue Centre.