Improvements begin to show at Bunny Park
Following recent inspections of the Benoni Bunny Park, local veterinarians and the Benoni SPCA reported a marked improvement in conditions at the facility.
Phil Maisela, trainee inspector at the Benoni SPCA visited the park on July 30 and was pleasantly surprised by the improvements.
“There was food everywhere, it looked good; there were a few sick bunnies, which we removed, but overall the park looks much better,” he commented.
Meanwhile, a veterinarian from Bapsfontein Animal Hospital (BAH), Evert Olivier, concluded the park was in good condition.
“Of about 200 rabbits visually examined none were underweight,” he said.
“Two suffered from scaling and crusting lesions, probably caused by a fungal disease.”
Olivier found that most of the other animals were in an acceptable condition.
He said natural grazing was not, however, in a good condition and made several recommendations regarding the continued well-being of the park.
Pieter Engelbrecht, the leading veterinarian from BAH, wrote a report on July 28, following his inspections of the park: “We recommend removing all the rabbits from the park, but, at the same time, establishing disease-free populations in the big holding pen of about a 100 rabbits, where all will be sterilised.
“A small breeding colony of about five to 10 does would be kept in a breeding facility, to continually support the holding pen of rabbits for the future.”
Engelbrecht also reported on an ewe at the park, after he was called out to inspect discharge from her eye.
“The ewe, unfortunately, died two days later and on post mortem examination it was found that most of her rumen was filled with plastic,” he said.
“We recommended that there should be notice boards erected in the park warning the public about plastic and feeding the animals with pellets out of plastic bags, as the whole bag is thrown into the pens, which may carry the risk that the animals may eat the plastic as well.”
Engelbrecht revisited the park on July 26 and 27, to inspect a weak lamb, which was found to be very thin, but still in good health.
“There were concerns regarding the milk production of the ewe and it was decided that the lamb should be hand-reared,” he said.
The lamb was taken to Kitty and Puppy Haven, in Midrand, on July 27.
