Friends of Free Wildlife volunteers protest for FreeMe animals to be released

Friends of Free Wildlife (FFW) volunteers held a protest and handed out 2 000 flyers on 19 March at the intersection of Estelle and Witkoppen roads for the release of the tortoises which are no longer in need of care at FreeMe Rehabilitation Centre.

Chairperson of Friends of Free Wildlife, Margi Brocklehurst said, “We await action from the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) for the rescue of the remaining animals allegedly stranded at FreeMe Rehabilitation Centre. As the weather begins to cool, our wait becomes more anxious by the day.”

Brocklehurst further expressed that both the NSPCA and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) are working tirelessly to facilitate the release of the remaining animals. “I pray the incumbent board will either resign or allow the release of these animals which are incarcerated unnecessarily,” she said.

According to the manager of the NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit, Isabel Wentzel, the animals that are no longer in need of care need to be released. Wentzel further added that the animals at the centre have been taken good care of and have not been abandoned, and the NSPCA is working to get them released into the wild. “Seeing that the winter season is approaching, it is appropriate for the animals to be released as soon as possible,” Wentzel said.

The rehabilitation centre sparked debate and concern in the community after their temporary closure by the department and the NSPCA on 10 November last year due to the reapplication of the centre’s permit to operate and Fourways Review has reported extensively on these developments.

According to general manager of FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Margo Bansda, the protest was illegal and permission for the protest was not obtained from the relevant authorities, hence Metro police politely asked the protesters to stop and leave the area.

She further explained that FreeMe has been in ongoing discussions with GDARD since September last year with regards to the release of the tortoises currently in their care.

“At the most recent meeting initiated by FreeMe, which was attended by both GDARD and the NSPCA, we were categorically told that because there is no tortoise release policy in Gauteng, no tortoise will be released without a permit, and no permits will be issued for the release of tortoises. Therefore, FreeMe is submitting a release proposal to GDARD for review, whereafter they will give permission to release the tortoises into closed systems. Until such time we are not permitted to release any tortoises,” Bansda expressed.

Bansda said that there have always been restrictions on the release of tortoises by GDARD and that the tortoises kept in captivity are more at risk of being carriers of diseases compared to their wild counterparts. She also said that it tends to be quite difficult to determine the origin of many tortoises and they are, therefore, not released into the wild due to the risk of genetic contamination and poor adaptability.

“During FreeMe’s temporary closure, the organisation has been operating under the guidance and supervision of GDARD and NSPCA, which means they continually inspect our animals and the facilities,” Bansda concluded.

GDARD has been approached for comment but is yet to respond.

Details: Follow Friends of Free Wildlife on their Facebook page