The World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park in Hout Bay was robbed of over R70 000 on Sunday afternoon.
The 81-year-old owner, Walter Mangold, was tied up with the office’s telephone cables, and says he believes it was an “inside job”.
Walter says the robbers hit just after 4pm and fled with the weekend’s takings.
“I collected the money from the café and entrance and headed to the office, which is about 200 metres away,” Walter explains.
“I placed the monies in the safe and sat at my desk when two men entered the office. mOne guy had me in a choke-hold and knocked me from the chair, got on top of me and held my face down.
AMBUSH: Sanctuary owner Walter Mangold, 81, robbed
“They cut the telephone wires and tied me up tightly by my hands and feet. It was extremely painful. They wanted to stuff a blanket in my mouth. All I asked was for them not to hurt me.
“They were searching for the safe keys. It’s like they had inside information as they knew everything. They got away with over R70 000.”
Walter was discovered by tourists after he shouted for help.
“I was lying on my face and managed to roll on my back. I used my elbows to pull myself to the door and shouted: ‘help! help! help!’” he says.
“There were still people in the park and five tourists came to my rescue and untied me and I managed to call police.”
The sanctuary, which houses 2000 animals, has been insolvent since June and Walter and his team have been struggling to keep it afloat.
He says the weekend’s takings was the break they were waiting for.
HIT: Walter believes attack was an ‘inside job’
“This was the first good weekend in six months and the monies made was to go to the bank whom we owe R850 000.”
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, confirmed the incident and says a case of business robbery was opened for investigation.
“No arrests made at this stage,” Swartbooi said.
A crowd-funding page has been started for the sanctuary and you can donate on https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/world-of-birds-wildlife-sanctuary-campaign.
robin.francke@inl.co.za