GALLERY and VIDEO: US representatives visit Joburg Zoo
PARKVIEW– The Johannesburg Zoo welcomes US representatives to exchange expertise and information about animals.
WARNING: Some images may offend sensitive viewers.
The Johannesburg Zoo hosted an international exchange of information and study tour on 9 October.
The tour was attended by representatives from the United States of America.
Veterinarian from Boston Massachusetts Dr Makheba Clarke said, she believes in the conservation of different animals around the world and that her visit to the Johannesburg Zoo is a great opportunity to see how the animals are handled.
The study tour was led by Carnivore Curator Agnes Maluleke, who took the group around the zoo to witness how some animals are taken care of and how the staff work to ensure that they are protected.
“We often get visitors from all over the world where we exchange knowledge on different methods on how to fulfill certain duties around the zoo. At times we also visit other zoo’s internationally for the same reasons. It’s important that we strive to be the best zoo in South Africa, through the exchange programme,” Maluleke said.
Nutritionist at the Joburg Zoo Cassandra Ramos, led the visitors into the kitchen where food for animals is prepared and stored. Ramos said fruits and vegetables are cut and weighed before being put into boxes that will be fed to herbivores. She also explained that the carnivore meat is also weighed before consumption.
“Smaller animals such as chickens, rats, rabbits and chicks are fed to snakes. They are killed in a human way by being gased,” she explained.
Ramos added that the animals fed to snakes are mostly donated by organisations and private individuals.
Maluleke led the visitors to witness a Western Low Land Gorilla fondly known as Makoko being fed monkey food.
Makoko is fed three times a day and weighs 200 kilograms since the last time he was weighed.
The monkeys also get the opportunity to watch DVDs at night in their cage that they sleep in.
Makoko’s favourite DVD is about Meerkats in the wild.
Social worker Jestina Walcott also from Boston Massachusetts said that she often works with animals to help her patients. “It was amazing to see how passionate the staff at Johannesburg Zoo are about the wildlife,” she said.
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