Urban Safari: Johannesburg Buffaloes Prompt Wildlife Operation on the Highway

In an unusual blend of urban conveyance and wildlife, two substantial buffaloes recently commandeered attention as they ambled nonchalantly down a bustling highway on the periphery of Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city. The peculiar site presented an immediate cause for concern and fascination as motorists navigating the highway near OR Tambo International Airport were met with the surprising sight of the heavy, sharp-horned creatures amidst the city’s rumbling traffic.

The authorities, put on alert by the danger these buffaloes could pose to commuters, recognized the unusual nature of the problem and promptly teamed up with risk assessment and security group Bidvest Protea Coin. This commercial firm, typically involved in crime response and the pursuit of stolen goods, brought its specialized assets to bear in this extraordinary wildlife pursuit, dispatching a helicopter equipped with an infrared camera.

In an operation that transformed part of the city’s outskirts into a temporary observation zone, the buffaloes’ body heat signatures revealed their presence, despite the animals having vanished subsequent to their daring highway jaunt. Waal de Waal, the Chief Operating Officer at Bidvest Protea Coin, detailed the operation which led to the discovery of the buffaloes early on Tuesday in a dense thicket adjacent to another highway near the airport.

The planned capture operation takes on an almost cinematic quality, as veterinarian Cliff Bull prepares to tranquillize the animals from the air. Cliff Bull, working with the Craig View Veterinary Clinic in Johannesburg, is no stranger to such endeavors, having previously secured a leopard from a resident's laundry room and a bushpig from the streets of the upscale Sandton area.

Surprisingly agile and discreet for their size, the buffaloes had potentially been evading detection for months, with previous sightings reported as far back as April of the preceding year. Managed only with the aid of a gentle tranquilizer, the animals would need to be guided—likely on foot and with cattle prods—to a waiting transport vehicle.

The topography and plant life of the recovery location present substantial logistical challenges, negating the possibility of extraction using stretchers. As such, Bull anticipates a cautious approach to shepherding the drowsy buffaloes to safety—a testament to his experience and courage when facing the formidable task of managing wildlife in unexpected locations.

The operation underscores the dynamic interface of urban development and natural habitat in South Africa’s bustling metropolises. Through collaboration between wildlife experts and security services, the safety of the public and the well-being of the buffaloes are being carefully managed, showcasing a proactive response to a situation as dramatic as it is rare.