On June 20th, 2025, five blue duikers (Philantomba monticola)—three males and two females—were successfully translocated after being confiscated from an urban office complex where they were inexplicably being kept as decorative “lawn ornaments.” 

Blue duikers are the smallest antelopes in southern Africa, typically weighing just 4–6 kg. Native to dense forest undergrowth, they are highly sensitive, solitary, and crepuscular, relying on thick cover and a stable microclimate to regulate stress and avoid predation. In captivity, especially in exposed or noisy environments, they are prone to shock, digestive failure, and death. Keeping them in urban settings is not only illegal—it’s lethal.

Following months of quarantine,  habitat selection, and permitting, a release site was chosen and approved in KwaZulu-Natal’s natural lowland forests. Delecia Gunn and staff at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve provided outstanding interim care for the duikers. Although Loskop lies outside their native range, Delecia kept them calm and healthy, which is significant for a species known for its nervous nature.

The final capture and transport were again overseen by Chris Hobkirk, Gait-Jan Sterk, and Delecia Gunn, using specialized nets and mild sedation to minimize stress during transport. All five animals were safely loaded and on their way for the eight-hour road trip within two hours.

They arrived at Bonamanzi Private Game Reserve, where they were released into three separate soft-release bomas. These enclosures provide dense cover and foraging opportunities to help the duikers adapt.

The operation was carried out through a joint effort by Wiki West from WeWild Africa, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Friends of Wildlife Management, Bonamamzi Private Game Reserve.