The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Bloemfontein urges its supporters to help it raise the above-mentioned amount of money to have the buffaloes extensively tested for an array of illnesses which include Tuberculosis and Bovine Brucellosis. 

Senior inspector at the SPCA, Reinet Meyer, tells OFM News the Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea) which led the rescue efforts to have the Bloemfontein Zoo shut down in early March, will be moving the remaining buffaloes to one of its 14 farms in the Free State, but cannot do so until they undergo the mandatory testing. According to Meyer, the buffaloes are in fact still quarantined at the zoo in question, contrary to earlier reports indicating otherwise.

Meyer says the SPCA team goes to the zoo everyday to ensure the zoo keepers are feeding and taking care of the buffaloes. Following some rain, the team has decided to split up the buffaloes from their current space. “We are at the moment here in the zoo. We want to split the eleven buffaloes, because the camp they are in is very wet and is too small for eleven buffaloes. So we are moving them to two other enclosures one for six and the other for five” says Meyer. The buffaloes are reportedly doing better than previously, thanks to food donations from the SPCA, but they are not expected to gain weight in such a short time frame.

The public is welcome to donate funds to the SPCA or food in the form of fodder for the buffaloes while they await testing.

Chief Director for Environmental Management at Destea, Nozi Nkoe, previously expressed the department’s satisfaction with the relocation of all the animals aside from the buffaloes. Nkoe stressed the department is continuing to provide support to the animal sanctuaries that are housing the rescues and will closely monitor their development over time. The animals have been accommodated by organisations like the Love, Lions, Alive Project, Four Paws South Africa’s Lionsrock Sanctuary and Humane Society International Africa, amongst many others. The Bloemfontein Zoo was shut down in early March due to non-compliance by the cash-strapped Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. She revealed the metro contravened environmental law and legislation and currently have no right to keep wildlife.

OFM News