Call for action on the EL zoo
THE East London zoo protest on Saturday was peaceful but the message was clear – close the zoo or at least improve the living conditions of the animals.
About 100 Buffalo City animal lovers, armed with posters, gathered outside the zoo to raise their concerns.
The protest followed after pictures of a worn-out bear at the embattled zoo was posted on Facebook.
The protest, arranged by Nicole Spink and Gabrielle Naidoo, was aimed at allowing the public to speak out against animal cruelty.
“We will put pressure on the municipality to do what is right for the animals,” Naidoo said.
Prior to the protest, an online petition was signed by the public advocating for improved facilities or calling for the closure of the zoo.
Spink said, “The zoo has been in a bad state for many years. I used to visit here when I was a kid and the situation has always been bad. The zoo needs to be shut down.”
Mihle Dyasi, 17, speaking during the protest, said zoos did not have a place in the 21st century.
“We should rather be having sanctuaries. Animals in the East London Zoo must be treated the same way animals in the wild are treated. We will continue to speak for the animals because they cannot speak for themselves.”
BCM spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said they had devised a programme of action to rectify the zoo conditions.
“We had acknowledged challenges that the zoo has faced and had devised a clear programme of action to rectify these and we have been working openly and honestly with every organisation that comes in good faith to solve some of these.”