By: Nomatshawe Bangani
Khoi-san activists entered into a cage sit-in at the Beacon Bay Retail Park campaigning for the release of wild animals from the East London Queens Park Zoo, yesterday.
The five activist who will be spending 11 days in a 3 by 2 metres cage believe that the Jaguar, Chimpanzee, Bear and the African vulture are being punished under the pretence of being educational. They are calling for the four wild animals to be released into sanctuaries where they can be free to run around.
ANC MPL and Khoi-san activist Christian Martin said in visiting the zoo on Sunday, they were shocked by the conditions in which the animals are living in.
“In the East London zoo you will find a Jaguar that is suppose to roam in a 2000 Km area is now staying in an enclosure of two RDP houses. The African vultures wing span is 6 metres, it is also in a small cage meaning it will lose its ability to fly. The chimpanzee was shaking the door of its enclosure as a sign to show it wants to be freed”.
He said the Khoi-san people have taken upon themselves to campaign for the release of these animals and are calling on the municipality and government to care for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Khoi-san activist Joseph Kreeling said as a youngster he used to look forward to visiting the Queenspark Zoo.
“The flora and fauna were good, the animals were treated good, fed well and the park was maintained properly but my last visit with the chiefs to the zoo was unpleasant, part of the fences were falling over, there was no staff on the premises to clean and feed the animals. The conditions of the zoo showed a clear lack of maintenance”.
The Khoi-san group believes that South Africa should become a zoo free country as zoos are outdated institutions. They said the zoo premises could be used as a remembrance park where people could visit and learn more about the deep history of the Eastern Cape.