Joburg Zoo responds to NSPCA’s legal action

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) announced on 17 January that they would take legal action against Johannesburg Zoo if the zoo acquired another elephant in the immediate future.

This follows reports, apparently sent to the society by insiders at the zoo, that there were plans to do so.

Johannesburg Zoo said in a statement on 24 January that they were assessing the situation regarding the resident elephant, Lammie and have begun engaging with relevant authorities to obtain, in-principle, support to acquire a companion for her.

The NSPCA’s trade and trafficking portfolio manager Karen Trendler said they had issued a legal communication to the zoo stating that if they were to move forward with obtaining another elephant, the NSPCA would launch an application to the high court to interdict this action.

“We have been receiving mixed reports from the zoo and felt it was necessary to take action before the elephant arrives. The Johannesburg Zoo has not played open book with us in the past,” said Trendler.

This follows in the wake of a number of protests at the zoo demanding the release of Lammie from the captive environment at the zoo and into an elephant sanctuary.

The spokesperson for the Johannesburg Zoo, Jenny Moodley stated that the acquisition of a new elephant would be subject to the zoo finalising their plan to increase the size of the elephant enclosure to include a swimming dam with mud-bathing and sand-wallowing areas.

While there is no definite time frame for the commencement of this process, the zoo assures the public that they will remain compliant with all prescripts set out by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Waza) and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD). Moodley also stated that the zoo would only consider elephants born in captivity as companions for Lammie.

The NSPCA resigned from the Johannesburg Zoo Animal Ethics and Scientific Committee, which serves to monitor and promote the ethical treatment of animals at the zoo, claiming that the Joburg Zoo had not been open with them.

However, in response to this claim, another spokesperson for the zoo, Letta Madlala said, “The NSPCA has been a member of this committee until recently when they tendered their resignation, and this forum would have been the appropriate channel for them to make a constructive contribution towards the zoo’s operation, in particular to the matter regarding the remaining elephant… In JCPZ’s [Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo] case, the resignation was seen as a mere misunderstanding and the issues raised might have been resolved if they were discussed beforehand.”

Joburg Zoo reiterated the fact that Lammie was found to have adjusted well after showing initial signs of anguish following the death of her companion Kinkel in September last year. Further testing of Lammie’s dung is planned to eliminate any concern of high-stress levels to scientifically verify the observations by her enrichment officer Candice Ward.

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