Two Bokkie Park cows die after eating bread
The metro has urged visitors to the park to refrain from giving food directly to any of the animals.
Two cows at the Bokkie Park, one of them pregnant, died on September 10 after consuming bread that was apparently thrown into the park by members of the public.
The bread caused a build-up of acid in the animals’ rumen (the first stomach of a ruminant, which receives food or cud from the oesophagus).
According to Emmanuel Maphorogo, parks department divisional head, loaves of bread and other food was thrown over the perimeter fence sometime between September 8 and 9, when the park was temporarily closed for maintenance work.
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The City’s veterinarian, from Bapsfontein Animal Hospital, and a horticulturist tried to save the cows but could only save the unborn calf, which is healthy and doing well.
In light of this incident, the metro has urged visitors to the park to refrain from giving food directly to any of the animals.
Visitors should rather hand food donations to the officials at the park to ensure the animals are not getting anything that could be harmful to their health.
Senior horticulturist at the Ekurhuleni metro Jaco Burger said the park animals have their own specified diet which is consumed in certain portions.
“Visitors must not feed the animals. If anyone sees someone feeding the animals food, please stop them.
“Our animals are fed a balanced food ration twice daily, which contains the correct mixture of fibre, vitamins, minerals and fats,” said Burger.
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