So, This Zebra Walks Into a Bar . . .
Residents say they’ve earned their stripes as a tourist attraction and proposed move to a reserve will be a death sentence
Brendan Bristow with a zebra named Njabulo that likes to hang out at Nature's Way Backpackers in Mtunzini in KwaZulu-Natal. Njabulo and two other zebras in the town are now at the centre of a court tussle.
THREE zebras who virtually have the run of a rural South African village have become the subject of a court tussle.
Brendan Bristow claims he is the owner of the animals, which include a three-week-old foal.
Not so, says Ezemvelo KwaZuluNatal Wildlife, which wants them in a game reserve.
The zebras live on Bristow’s property in Mtunzini in northern KwaZuluNatal, where he runs a backpackers’ hostel. The animals roam a nearby nine-hole golf course and have been known to pop into the local pub, supermarkets and restaurants. They have become a local attraction, and a petition has been circulated among the town’s 2 000 residents asking for the zebras to remain in Mtunzini.
Bristow says if they are moved to a reserve, they will be “easy prey for predators”.
The two adult zebras, named Savannah and Njabulo, wandered to Bristow’s premises seven years ago after being forced out of a nearby reserve, Siyaya Coastal Park, by dominant stallions.
The provincial authority says they should be moved to Umfolozi Game Reserve, 89km south of Mtunzini.
Last week, Bristow obtained an interim interdict in the Mtunzini Magistrate’s Court to prevent Ezemvelo from removing the animals.
“Over the past seven years, I have been caring for the zebras and they have become domesticated and tame,” said Bristow “Occasionally I allow them to leave my premises by opening the gate, but they remain in reasonably close proximity and always return of their own volition.”
The residents have also raised a “portion” of the R3.5-million required to erect a fence around the town to prevent the animals from wandering to the busy N2 national road.
A study and measurement of the barrier, which will enclose the town’s 1 000-odd homes, has been presented to the uMlalazi local municipality.
Bristow said his 4ha Nature’s Way Backpackers’ Lodge had more than sufficient grazing land for the zebras.
He also supplements the zebras’ diet with salt lick and horse feed.
“The zebras have become settled here. Relocating them to Umfolozi Game Reserve would be similar to passing a death sentence on these animals. They would be easy prey for predators and carnivores such as lions, leopards and hyenas.
“Being tame and domesticated, these zebras would be unable to fend for themselves. They have not come across predators and carnivores and, accordingly, would not recognise the threat. They would not last more than a day or two if they were to be relocated there.”
Bristow’s business partner, Claude Lango, said the residents had proposed erecting warning signs for visiting motorists and tourists. “This will prevent any unfortunate incidents.”
According to the residents’ association, the animals have become a tourist attraction in the town, which derives much of its revenue from ecotourism through its more than 100 000 visitors a year.
Ezemvelo spokesman Musa Mntambo said his organisation was hoping to meet Bristow to discuss the matter.
Ezemvelo’s main concern is that even though the town wants to keep the animals, no one is prepared to take responsibility and an urban environment is not suitable for wildlife.