Virus wipes out all Bokkie Park rabbits

The City of Ekurhuleni has confirmed that all the rabbits at the Bokkie Park have died.

Metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the recent observation of a reduced rabbit population at the park is attributed to an outbreak of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Viral Disease (RHVD), first detected in Morehill, Benoni.

“By December 2023, the Bokkie Park also fell victim to this disease, leading to a complete loss of its rabbit population. RHVD is highly contagious and fatal, with a significant impact observed across various provinces in South Africa,” said Dlamini.

Regarding the welfare of the animals at the park, Dlamini said: “The city assures the public that all animals under its care, including those at Bokkie Park, receive appropriate care and welfare.

“Allegations regarding inadequate food and shelter are unfounded. We always ensure that all animals have access to suitable food, shelter, and veterinary care.

“The number of farm animals at the Bokkie Park has been stable over the past year. The city has controlled breeding to maintain the population within the park’s capacity.

“The city actively monitors the animal population in the park. A dedicated team ensures the well-being of the animals, supported by sufficient budget allocation for their care, including access to veterinary services around the clock. As stated above, the city controls the breeding to maintain the population within the park’s capacity.”

Pollution
Dlamini said the metro is aware of pollution near the lake in the park.
The pollution primarily stems from stormwater runoff from Boksburg South, central Boksburg, and parts of Boksburg East industrial area.

“This leads to litter accumulation in the dam. We havs deployed full-time workers dedicated to removing litter from the dam’s surface to mitigate this issue.”
The Boksburg Advertiser recently joined Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos for an oversight at the park.

While De Vos noted the overall aesthetics of the park looking good, he said there were many alcohol bottles in the bin despite no alcohol being allowed.
“The amount of empty bottles on the premises is posing a danger to both visitors and animals,” he pointed out.

In response to the alcohol bottles, Dlamini said the city is concerned about the non-compliance with the park’s no-alcohol rule, as evidenced by alcohol bottles found in bins.

“Additional security staff were requested for the December period. Assistance from EMPD and SAPS was also sought for rule enforcement in various city parks, including the Bokkie Park. It must, however, be pointed out that the community must work with us to ensure that there is law and order.

“This is a societal problem that needs all of us to address, not only the city.”

A visitor to the park, Lynette van der Merwe of Cinderella, said she is happy with the current state of the animals.

“It looks better than it did a few years ago,” said Lynette, who was with her son, Nolin.

Other visitors, Tinnyiko, Martha and Andries Khoza from Vosloorus, said they enjoy coming to the park to relax.

“I’m happy with the state of the park and it is clean,” Andries pointed out.

Boksburg SPCA manager Vicky Finnemore said they will continue to monitor the park and conduct inspections.

Also Read: Bunny, Bokkie park rabbits so far clear of deadly virus metro says

Also Read: Bokkie Park bunnies so far unaffected by deadly virus