Mitchell Park Zoo: Animal lovers take a stand

BAN Animal Trading, an NPO that focuses on local investigations into various forms of animal abuse and neglect, held a peaceful demonstration outside Mitchell Park Zoo on Saturday, 25 January, to create awareness around animals in captivity.

BAT volunteers gathered on the pavement area at the Musgrave and Florida Road intersection between 10am and noon, to take a stand, after reports of alleged poor living conditions and neglect at Mitchell Park Zoo were shared in the media and on social media platforms.

Tara Aberdeen, one of the Durban representatives for BAT, said: “In light of this, we aimed to not only create awareness about these issues, but acknowledge that zoos are no place for animals. Zoos are archaic facilities where animals are held as prisoners for profit. Their natural habitats, behaviours and needs can never be met. Watching wild animals languish in cages is not entertaining. These animals deserve to be placed in sanctuaries and the zoo closed. Modern technology means that we can learn anything about animals without them having to be caged and displayed. Children love and are well informed about dinosaurs without ever having to see one.”

READ RELATED: Ongoing work needed to restore Mitchell Park Zoo to former glory

BAT not only focuses on animal abuse and neglect, but also deals with educational outreach to help South Africans understand animal rights. Aberdeen said BAT is committed to confronting and eradicating animal exploitation and abuse in all industries that benefit from the misery and suffering of sentient creatures. “Compassion in Action is the slogan we live by,” she said.

Visit: https://www.bananimaltrading.org/

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