Jenny Moodley, the spokesperson for the Johannesburg Zoo, told the City Times this afternoon that the zoo’s legal team has advised them to halt the acceptance of rabbits until the court action against the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) is finalised.
READ:
UPDATE: Future of Benoni bunnies now uncertain
Smaragda Louw, director and chairperson of Ban Animal Trading (Bat), said the organisation believes the municipality’s decision to donate animals to the zoo is a “total disregard” for a high court order which was handed down earlier this year.
Louw said Bat’s legal team is compiling court papers as they intend on bringing an urgent application before the high court to interdict the municipality from sending the bunnies to the zoo.
She said the court order made earlier this year states that the EMM would need to sterilise the park’s rabbits.
Louw said the municipality’s “poor management” of the sterilisation process has meant they cannot keep up with the animals’ breeding.
She said the animals should have been sterilised in large batches in order to curtail the rapid breeding.
The activist said she spoke to the zoo’s management, who she said was not aware of the previous legal action.
“The Johannesburg Zoo indicated that their legal department has advised them not to accept any rabbits until further notice,” said EMM spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
“The City of Ekurhuleni respects their decision and no further rabbits will be taken to Johannesburg Zoo until further notice.”
Gadebe was not available to say whether the municipality will continue sterilising the animals.
Follow us on these platforms:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
