Seven months after the highly contagious Rabbit Haemorrhagic Viral Disease (RHVD2) claimed the lives of more than 40 rabbits at the Bunny Park in Rynfield, the Benoni City Times found that a new colony of bunnies is living comfortably in the park’s dedicated rabbit enclosure.
According to the Ekurhuleni metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, the reintroduction of the animals is from the public discarding unwanted pets at the park.
“There are 39 rabbits in the enclosure, none of which are vaccinated against the deadly virus, nor have any been sterilised due to the risks involved in transporting them to a veterinarian,” he said.
“The Department of Parks and Cemeteries is consulting with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development about the best way forward.”
The City Times contacted Tania Forrest-Smith, the founder of Furry Friends and the Bunny Park Rescue group, about the matter.
The animal activist was instrumental in the park’s rehabilitation, which saw the animal enclosures upgraded and free-roaming bunnies captured and rehomed.
During the process, the Rynfield resident worked tirelessly to raise funds to have 50 of the park’s cotton-tailed residents sterilised to curb overpopulation.
“I cannot believe metro is so callous in allowing a colony to be established in the enclosure, especially after due processes were followed to ensure their safety from the disease,” said Forrest-Smith.
“Whether they were dumped by careless community members or purposely reintroduced, the enclosure is a death trap and the poor animals will suffer a dreadful death,” Forrest-Smith said.
She explained that after the demise of the park’s original colony and, according to protocols prescribed by the State veterinarian, the soil in the enclosure should have been removed from the park and responsibly discarded.
To contain the spread of the virus, any animal carcasses found in burrows should also have been cremated.
“During the enclosure upgrade, a cement base was cast to prevent the bunnies from borrowing out,” she said.
“Once the soil was removed, the cement base would need scrubbing with industrial strength sanitiser and agricultural lime placed on top to neutralise the chemicals. After that and before establishing a new colony, new soil would be placed.”
Dlamini confirmed that the soil in the enclosure has not yet been replaced, stating that the ground was chemically treated after the RHVD2 outbreak in October.
“After the devastation of the RHVD2, the rabbits that did not die are deemed immune or have sufficient internal resistance to the virus,” he said.
“The same as with humans and the Covid-19 virus, some people were infected while others’ immune systems were strong enough to fight the virus, even without the vaccination,” Dlamini said.
“The rabbits in the enclosure have not been vaccinated and have survived, meaning they have strong internal immune systems against the RHVD2 virus.”
Forrest-Smith refuted the claim, saying rabbits do not build immunity against the disease and that vaccination is the only form of prevention.
“The virus is still rife. New deaths are reported daily throughout the country. It is only a matter of time before these animals suffer at the hands of the park’s custodians,” she said.
“A further lack of appropriate sanitation in the form of footbaths at the entrance to the park is putting pet rabbits at risk as the virus spreads through contact with infected animals and surfaces.
“An additional risk is that this new colony will soon breed unabated. A doe can produce a litter of five kits every 28 days. The enclosure will become overpopulated in no time.”
Dlamini reiterated that the metro has no intent to reintroduce rabbits at its parks, which include the Bunny Park and Bokkie Park in Boksburg.
“We request the public not to bring unwanted pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, to these parks. Contact your nearest animal rescue or welfare organisations to arrange a safe and humane surrender.”
RHVD2 facts:
• The virus cannot be transmitted to humans or other animal species.
• Transmission of the viral disease is through direct contact with infected animals through the oral, nasal or conjunctival routes, hair, food, bedding and water used by infected animals, flies and other insects.
• Symptoms of the disease include fever, loss of appetite, bloodstained or frothy nasal discharge, convulsions and paralysis.
• The incubation period for the virus is one to three days but can extend to five. The disease can survive for up to 72 hours on surfaces that are not adequately sanitised.
• In acute infections, death occurs 12 to 36 hours after the onset of fever.
Also Read: Virus wipes out all Bokkie Park rabbits
Also Read: Bokkie Park open again
