The suburbs’ wildlife heroes rescued three new mysterious little bokkies on the block.
Pretoria, South Africa (28 August 2025) – Pretoria’s Wilgers community has had multiple surprise visitors in the past two weeks. Three little grey duikers have had to be rescued from the same neighbourhood. Nobody has a cooking clue where they’re all coming from.
“At this rate, we’re expecting them to form a neighbourhood watch group,” joked South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (SAWRC) recounting the story of the suburb’s mystery bokkies.
The most recent case started when Peter Smythe from Friends of Skuilkrans spotted one on the run and called in rescuer Leanne Hezlett from the rehabilitation centre. Leanne called on the help and expertise of Dr Robert Campbell of Val de Grace Vet CREW and his assistant, Jan.
Together they set out to rescue their third bokkie in two weeks.
The buck had taken cover in a quiet garden where Dr Campbell darted him in the shoulder. Not ready to give in, he bolted, but Dr Campbell broke into an unexpected sprint of his own, with Jan right behind him.
“Spotting a compost heap with the perfect launch angle, [the antelope] catapulted himself over the wall like a four legged Olympian. Not to be outdone, Dr. Campbell demonstrated skills we didn’t know were part of his veterinary training…” wrote he SAWRC.
They caught up just as the tranquiliser took effect, giving the team a chance to step in safely.
Back at Val de Grace, X-rays revealed the duiker had an old fracture but was otherwise in good condition. He was given the all-clear to be released.
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“So this happy ending is multiplied,” wrote the SAWRC.
The rescue was made possible thanks to locals in Wilgers who pulled together to cover the veterinary costs. The SAWRC says the contributions lifted a huge weight from their shoulders. Wildlife rescue is not cheap work.
“The crowning glory of this case, though, was that this extraordinary community of Wilgers pulled together to cover our veterinary fees. The relief in our clinic was so profound…” wrote the SAWRC.
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