My wife and I visited a private zoo, or a boutique zoo, in Midrand and it was such a pleasure to be there. The place is kept very clean and to my mind the animals are kept in good condition – except these animals are deprived of their freedom in the wild. It is, without saying, the ultimate space for them: their natural habitat; the wild open spaces. Having said that, it is virtually impossible for me to have had access to these exotics in the wild – this is obviously the second best for both them and us.
And it seems as if a lot of scientific research is
done on them. And I am very aware of that High Court matter in respect of the
elephants in the Johannesburg Zoo – you would have read my write-up about that.
I am still waiting the outcomes of this matter. After I did some reading about
wild animals in captivity, I am not so sure whether the Court will be
sympathetic to the applicants.
I took these two videos with my cell and am happy with the outcomes. What a magnificent creature – and well kept.
Please visit it Lory Park Zoo.
My sketch protest against these exotic animals in
private captivity is finished and remains to be laminated to be my first
placemat to display while we are eating. At the moment I am busy with my next
art project and I will keep a “secret” for a while – once again something very
current and very real and scary but yet brutally creative.
With some reading done, I came to a shocking discovery
and that is that there are more Bengal tigers in the USA in captivity than
there are specimens in the wild. Please visit this website and read it for
yourself.
Here is a quote from the one website [ANIMAL LEGALDEFENSE FUND est 1979 link] pertaining to the USA:
“More
tigers live in cages in this country, than exist in all the wild. They are just
some of the millions of wild animals living in captivity across the United
States. Some are in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos, others live
caged at private homes.”
This website is brim-full of articles that will make
your hand stand up in horror! And it refers to a number of legal actions
against the authorities to take action.
The RSPCA’s article on WELFARE OF WILD
ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY is also worth a visit and to spend some time there.
And there is no legislation to regulate and protect it
– this pertains to our beautiful country as well.
This holds true not only for tigers, but all kinds of
wild exotic animals. I would venture a guess about the High Court Case about
our Elephants in the Johannesburg Zoo, that it might go against the applicants
who apply for the relocation of these animals. Initially I was swayed in favour
of the applicants’ case, but now it seems to be open to some doubt. I suggest
that there are, or might be, some good reason to keep these in captivity. Maybe, and I have not researched
this aspect, it needs better regulations and patrolling of these facilities?
Having said all of this about the Elephants-case,
their legal team and experts, are a lot to be reckoned with; not mickey mouse
stuff this. Heavy weights. But … we are waiting the Courts views with bated
breath.
I came to the very sad conclusion about my “protest”
against exotic Bengal Tigers in captivity in the RSA, that this a not going to
succeed to have it eradicated or to cause these animals to be returned to their
natural habitat. On the positive side, I at least have done something to draw
attention to this phenomenon; every time we use the place mat on our table, I
will know, and my guests, will know, about this huge problem and that there are
animals in distress – and mostly it is us, human beings, that is causing it. And
I hope that it will elicit a good lively discussion.
And, besides, I enjoyed this art project.
Please write me you story: neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za
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