The Johannesburg Zoo in Saxonwold will see some exciting new changes in the upcoming months. The zoo was allocated R9.4 million for the 2017/18 financial year which will go towards completing the parking structure, repairing infrastructure and purchasing new animals.
In the next two financial years, the zoo will receive an additional R26 million.
Oscar van Heerden, the acting head of Johannesburg Zoo, said each year they submit an ideal budget including everything they would want. The zoo has undergone two large projects within the last couple of years namely the parking structure, the revamped hospital wing and the Amazon exhibit.
The new parking structure, which will now accommodate more than 700 cars and 10 buses, cost about R20 million and has taken just under two years to complete. Van Heerden said the attendance at the zoo had dropped significantly since the parking was closed for renovations.
“For that reason, we really put pressure on the contracts so fortunately it was finished before the three-year period. I would say comfortably by 1 August it will be open,” said Van Heerden. I am confident it will make a difference.”
The veterinary hospital, which underwent a large renovation earlier this year, has also been allocated R3 million. “The new wing was really just the physical infrastructure and the additional money will kit it out.”
The zoo will also purchase 23 new animals this year including birds, venomous snakes and frogs. The zoo will also enter into an exchange with a German zoo to acquire an orangutan.
The next large project to be worked on will be converting the former polar bear enclosure into a sealed enclosure. However, Van Heerden said these large projects which require a lot of funding typically only happen every three or four years.
Braamfontein Spruit project almost complete
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is in the process of hiring a permanent head for the zoo who will be appointed within the next few months, however, Van Heerden said this has not stopped him from coming up with new projects to implement at the zoo.
Other plans Van Heerden would like to work on include linking the zoo with Zoo Lake in order to create one large precinct, a canopy bridge among the trees and a cineplex which will play educational films. “There are plenty of ideas and it’s all dependent on the funding.”
Let us know what you think of the new projects at the Johannesburg Zoo on WhatsApp 079 439 5345
