Councillor does not want to see Bunny Park close
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) is not considering closing the Benoni Bunny Park, despite calls from segments of the community and volunteer groups for the park to be closed indefinitely.
Members of Ban Animal Trading (Bat) and the Bunny Park Animals 911 Group today again reaffirmed their calls for the park to shuts its gates, following the discovery of a dead cow in the park this morning.
The Bunny Park Animals 911 Group’s Tania Forrest-Smith told the City Times that they are “100 per cent sure” that the facility’s employees are responsible for the death of the cow, nicknamed Mr Brown.
READ: ‘We will sleep here’ – Bunny Park interest groups
“The metro is not considering closing the park because there is no compelling reason from our position,” said EMM spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
READ: Bunny Park reopened
Gadebe said the courts will decide on the fate of the Benoni landmark.
The City Times reported in February that Bat and the Bunny Park Animals 911 Group started legal proceedings, because, they claimed, their demands for the park were never met.
The groups released a statement on February 18.
“Bat and the Bunny Park Animals 911 Group have instituted legal proceedings against EMM as a result of their failure to engage meaningfully with us as to the feeding and veterinary care of the bunnies and animals at the Bunny Park,” the statement read.
“The animals at the Bunny Park are subjected to poor living conditions, specifically inadequate infrastructure and a deficiency of nutrients due to the lack of food.
“Accordingly, the legal proceedings that we have launched aim to interdict the Bunny Park from operating for a period of three months.
“During this period all the animals will receive the necessary veterinary care and suitable alternative homes will be pursued for all the animals.”
Gadebe said the investigation into three workers who allegedly kicked a rabbit to death on May 2 is still ongoing.
He said an investigation will also be launched into the death of Mr Brown.
“We don’t condone animal abuse; investigations take place in a set of rules,” said Gadebe.
“I can’t pre-empt what will happen, we need to give [the workers] a fair chance.”
He said no decision has been taken to suspend the workers, but that may be considered pending the outcome of the investigation.
“It is safe to say we still stand by our conviction that the animals are well fed,” said Gadebe.
DA calls for closure
Meanwhile, the DA has also called for the park to be closed with immediate effect.
“It is extremely disturbing to know that animals are subjected to live in these harsh and inhumane conditions,” said the DA’s Clr Jackie Reilly.
“While the DA conducted a site visit to the Bunny Park on May 11, and did not find any visible signs of animal abuse, it’s alarming to discover that a cow has passed away two days after the visit.
“This, indeed, shows how quickly the conditions change at the park, as the feeders were found empty and there was no sign of drinking water for the animals on May 13.”
The DA is adamant that the metro should close the facility and conduct a thorough investigation in order to resolve these ongoing matters with urgency.
Councillor has different views to his party’s
Despite calls from the DA in Ekurhuleni for it to be shut, Ward 27 Clr Gerrie Kriek has a different view, saying the park should remain open to the public.
Kriek told the City Times this afternoon that the “beautiful facility” needs to be preserved for the children.
When asked whether conditions of the park and its animals were a cause for concern, Kriek said there is “no concern whatsoever”.
He said the park’s workers are feeding animals adequately, and that the inhabitants of the Bunny Park do not need food 24/7.
The councillor expressed his concern that the negative publicity surrounding the park may make it easier for the municipality to sell the park off for development.
