New Jungle Nook Zoo owners hopeful

West Rand Pet and Bird Farm as a whole is improving, with Jungle Nook Zoo now being a separate entity and under new management.

Cecile and Vincent Goms took over care of some of the animals in the zoo as early as September last year, but now can call themselves the proud and hopeful owners. The Jungle Nook Zoo has been separated from the Pet and Bird Farm to ease access to it and the adjacent coffee shop.

The Goms’ are weary from all the work that they have put into improving the animals’ conditions, but are excited about the opportunity it holds.

“Everything costs money and that is an issue for us,” said Cecile, highlighting the urgent issue of sheltering the animals properly for winter.

“We have been working hard at cleaning the place but we want to start beautifying the different areas.”

Both the Goms’ are hunters and believe that hunting provides nature conservationists with the funds to care for their livestock.

“I’ve been asked many times how I can marry being an animal lover with being a hunter – the answer is that one depends on the other, provided that hunting is done responsibly, of course.”

She says that both her children are as involved in nature and love animals as well; her daughter wants to become a veterinarian and her son is studying nature conservation. She has high hopes for what the zoo could mean to the community once again. Her two permanent staff members are of great help and she inspects the premises at least four times a day.

“The zoo attracted people; it used to be here for their enjoyment more than for an owner’s profit and we want to return it to that state.

“However, we first have to improve the welfare of the animals.

“We’re committed to turning this place around.”