The Johannesburg Zoo held an event on 15 March to unveil the new wing of the veterinary hospital which cost R4.5 million.
The zoo, situated in Parkview, which opened in 1904, was in dire need of an upgrade and last year R50 million was allocated to the zoo for upgrades that, among others, included the new wing of the hospital and a new parking structure.
Construction for the new wing began last year and it has been operational for the last six months. Staff at the zoo, however, decided to postpone the unveiling to ensure all snags had been dealt with.
Bukelwa Njingolo, the chief operating officer of the zoo said, “They are comfortable now and they are happy using the facility, but we do know that we could do better. This is an ongoing project, we don’t get enough funding.”
The upgrade to the hospital included a new surgery room as well as a viewing room where visitors of the zoo can view the general check-ups of various animals.
Raising funds for the zoo is still a major problem, as the income the zoo receives from gate entrance fees does not cover the costs of the zoo’s upkeep.
Njingolo said, “This facility is more than a 100 years old so I am busy manicuring. I’m busy looking at facelifts and ‘botoxing’ this facility but the problem is, what about sustaining it and maintaining it?”
Oscar van Heerden, acting head of the zoo, stressed the importance of the zoo and said, “The zoological gardens in the 21st century is such that it is an important link in the conservation cycle, both in terms of endangered species but also in terms of research.”
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