This will be my last contribution to this Blog for 2014 and its got nothing to do with small creatures.
However I hope that it proves to be an example of how one person’s voice can make a BIG difference in the lives of innocent animals.
In my frequent visits to the Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve since late 2012, I noticed that not many of the Zebra foals born there actually lived very long before passing away. Upon finding a deceased foal in June of 2013, I went looking for a ranger at the reserve to inform them of what I had found, and after asking a couple of questions, I was told that the problem in the park was all about inbreeding.
Basically new zebra had not been released into the park for quite a few years, meaning that brothers and sisters were breeding with each other. This meant that the babies were being born with severely weakened immune systems, and parasites such as ticks would eventually kill them.
In December 2013 I took pictures of a foal which was a couple of days old and looking fit and healthy.
​In March this year I took a picture of the same foal and was shocked to see the state of it.
​Upon seeing this I went and sought out the parks management for some answers. They confirmed that the problem was inbreeding, and upon asking them what was being done about the problem they got just as upset as I felt and said that they were waiting on management at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, who keep promising and nothing happens.
Now this is sometimes where we give up and say, “Well what can I do?”
I decided to go as far as I could contacting Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, NSPCA as well as 50-50, all through email with picture included.
Ezemvelo got back to me with a wait and see answer. The NSPCA went out and had the poor ill foal taken to CROW, where it passed away a few days later.
Then 50-50 contacted me and asked if I would be interested in being interviewed for a story about the reserve. Believing something needs to be done, I agreed and here is the story, now on YouTube.
In this interview Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife promised to introduce a new bloodline into the reserve in October/November this year. However within a moth of this program going to air, the new male Zebra arrived and the old males were taken to another reserve. This is a picture of one of the new  stallions:
So the moral to this story is how even you and an ordinary Joe, can make a huge difference in an animals life, or in anything that is wrong in the world by not giving up on what you believe in. I had the belief that what was going on in the reserve was wrong and I did not stop until something was done about these poor animals sufferings.
So when you are out on holiday and you see something that does not look right, don’t just shrug your shoulders and keep quiet, instead speak out about it. Remember social media is a very powerful tool.
Have a great Holiday and stay safe
God Bless
Warren.K.Dick
