All in order at Mitchell Park Zoo, says Durban SPCA

THE Durban and Coast SPCA and ward 31 councillor, Ernest Smith visited Mitchell Park Zoo last week, following a recent complaint from a concerned visitor.

A concerned Penny Delport said something needed to be done urgently.

“Mitchell Park Zoo is shocking,” she said.

“Water pumps are not working, the paving is untidy, a leguvaan has a bleeding nose from trying to get out of its cage and seems very distressed with flies all over him. It looked like there was no water in the budgie cage, the tortoises had a bit of lettuce and nothing else. The whole place is a disgrace and should be shut down and animals released, it’s very cruel. Animals should not be caged,” she said.

In response to the complaint, Berea Mail contacted the Durban and Coast SPCA and Councillor Smith, to get to the bottom of the complaints, following action taken last year to spruce up the Zoo.

ALSO READ: Parks Department works to spruce up Mitchell Park Zoo

Commenting following an inspection, Tanya Fleischer, marketing manager of Durban and Coast SPCA, said the SPCA could not comment on the ‘untidy paving’ but responded regarding the state of the animals.

“It is an iguana and not a leguvaan, that is at the zoo, and it did not have a bleeding nose. It had a bruise on its nose which was being treated and the f10 gel being used to treat it may look bad or unpleasant, but this was not blood, it was medicine on the nose. On inspection, there were no flies and the iguana was not distressed at all, it was chilling in the sun,” she said.

Fleischer said the budgie cage had a large concrete water trough, and there was also a small metal bowl in the cage, which is only used when medicine needs to be given.

“They do not feed tortoises lettuce as this is not good for them. The tortoises receive a variety of meals, when we went it was a mix of cabbage and potatoes and there was plenty. They did inform us they are short-staffed due to Covid-19, but all the animals were in fair condition, all cages are cleaned every morning and they receive fresh water and food,” she concluded.

Councillor Smith and Berea Mail visited the Zoo on Thursday at 8am. At the time, staff were distributing food to the various cages and on departure, Smith and Berea Mail visited the area where food is kept.

“It is evident the animals are being well fed and I witnessed staff placing food in the cages. The cold room is also well stocked with fruit and vegetables and I witnessed staff preparing the food which is placed in buckets and taken to the cages for the animals and birds. I have spoken to the curator about the concerns,” he said.

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