Who owns wild animals?

This complicated question recently surfaced once more in an interesting case brought before the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa: Mathenjwa v Magudu Game Company (258/08) [2009] ZASCA 57 (28 MAY 2009). The SCA, accepting that the common law of South Africa on this point was essentially based on the Roman-law doctrine, investigated the abstract/causal theories of acquisition of ownership of property at great length. This case is an interesting example of the contemporary application of civilian principles in a mixed jurisdiction.