CONCERN FOR THE ANIMALS AT THE NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS

The Honourable Minister, the local SPCA, the NSPCA and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have also been tagged in these posts.

The NZG has received much negative publicity in the past however, it will be very difficult for it to silence this amount of criticism and brush off these complaints, which are substantiated with multiple images.

SANBI has a mandate to protect the environment and biological diversity, to promote conservation and to protect wild animals. This role as caretaker has become even more pressing. Moreover, captive wild animal facilities have a duty of care to their animals and must protect their welfare at all times.

If SANBI does not have the best interest of the wild animals in its care, then it is better for the animals to relocated to legitimate sanctuaries and organisations that can provide high-quality care and re-wildling (where appropriate).As the Minister is aware, the EMS Foundation is extremely concerned about the welfare of Charlie the Elephant at the NZG, but we also cannot ignore the well-being of other wild animals held captive in the zoo.

Together with a growing global public, the EMS Foundation believes that it is never acceptable to prioritize human entertainment over animal welfare. How we treat wild animals speaks to our humanity.

As South Africans, parents, educators, environmentalists, conservationists and citizens it is our responsibility to teach children and young people to think about and actively and truly promote the protection of wild animals over the few minutes in front of an exhibition at a zoo, where all that remains is an abject specimen entirely out-of- context, rather than a species. If this is deemed as education then it is the weakest form of education. So much more is possible, and is also necessary.

Globally there is growing recognition, based upon scientific fact, that zoos cannot adequately provide for the social, psychological and physical needs of wild animals. Generally, zoo administrators agree that zoos are in need of major and meaningful reform. For this reason, since 1991 zoos in thirty-five regions have closed or are in the process of closing their elephant exhibitions. These include, for example, North America, South America, Canada, India, Pakistan, England and Scotland.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated that captive facilities have become financial burdens. Many wild animals in captivity have been are in danger of starvation. The pandemic has, in fact, now provided the opportunity to plan for a transformational strategy where there are exciting alternative educational and tourism possibilities as well as upskilling and retooling opportunities. We would be happy to discuss some of these with the Honourable Minister.

We look forward to your earliest response,

Yours Sincerely,

Michele Pickover

Executive Director
EMS Foundation
Email: michele@emsfoundation.org.za

IMAGE CREDITS: Facebook Sunday 11th April 2021

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