Animals for Sale - Pretoria Zoo

[Guest guest]

http://www.zoo.org.za/cws/projects/pretoria_zoo/sale/sale.jsp

 

Ok, so I'm bored and looking at some stuff on the internet, when I decide to

look at Pretoria Zoo's website ... I didn't get very far, since one of the top

buttons for folk to look at was " ANIMALS FOR SALE " ...

 

I'm asking people in WAZA and AZA if this is normal for zoos to have on their

general home page? Are zoos still in the business of selling animals??

 

Up until now, I guess I thought when animals were " traded " between zoos, this

was done more subtly ... guess I have a lot to learn!

 

Jane Dewar

 

 

[Guest guest]

NachrichtDear Peter,

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question about Pretoria Zoo selling

animals. I'm still a bit confused, however, and perhaps you'd be kind enough to

clarify things for me.

 

If Pretoria Zoo is running a " breeding program " with over 15,000 " specimens, and

then has to cull or sell them to avoid overgrazing, why are they breeding in the

first place? Is this a money-making program or, if it's conservation-related,

how does breeding surplus populations help?

 

Thanks in advance for your clarification.

 

Jane Dewar

-

WAZA Director

'Jane T. R. Dewar' ; 'CESD A' ; 'Asian Animal Protection' ;

alloprimate ; 'primfocus' ; gorillakeepers

Cc: 'Willie Labuschagne' ; Yolanda Matamoros ; Alex Rübel ; Bill Dennler ; Ed

McAlister ; Gordon McGregor Reid ; Henning Julin ; Karen Sausman ; Laura Mumaw ;

Mark Reed ; 'Esteve Tomas'

Monday, May 03, 2004 2:49 AM

AW: Animals for Sale - Pretoria Zoo

 

 

While I generally will refrain from contributing to the Taiping Four-related

email corrspondence, this particular issue warrants some official response from

WAZA:

 

The National Zoo of South Africa is a special case in that it operates three

game breeding centres at Mokopane (1329 ha), Lichtenburg (4500 ha) and near

Vanderbijlpark (314 ha). Their total animal inventory is in excess of 15 000

specimens. The vast majority of the animals at the game breeding centres belong

to native species and are kept under wild or semi-wild conditions. The annual

removal of game is thus an essential management tool to prevent overgrazing and

related issues. An animal census is conducted at the end of the breeding season

and a meeting involving the oganisation's veterinarians, conservation and

curatorial staff will decide on the number of animals to be removed on an annual

basis. These animals cannot be absorbed by zoo-to-zoo exchange and are,

therefore, offered for sale within the country. Animals are ceded only to those

individuals or institutions who have successfully applied for a veterinary and

transport permit issued by the Nature Conservation Department of that particular

province Prices are set in accordance with average auction prices*.

Advertisements are placed in the newspapers and responses are submitted to the

finance subcommittee of the National Zoological Garden's Council who will award

the tender. Through this process the NZG has reintroduced hundreds of animals,

mostly antelope into private game reserves all over the country.

 

* Note in this context that game auctions are regularly held by the South

African National Parks Board, Kwazulu-Natal Wildlife (which has the largest

auction) and other Provincial Nature Conservation Authorities.

 

WAZA - THE WORLD ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS

The Executive Director

Peter Dollinger DVM PhD

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----

Von: Jane T. R. Dewar [jdewar]

Gesendet: Sonntag, 25. April 2004 19:18

An: CESD A; Asian Animal Protection; alloprimate ; primfocus;

gorillakeepers

Betreff: Animals for Sale - Pretoria Zoo

 

 

http://www.zoo.org.za/cws/projects/pretoria_zoo/sale/sale.jsp

 

Ok, so I'm bored and looking at some stuff on the internet, when I decide to

look at Pretoria Zoo's website ... I didn't get very far, since one of the top

buttons for folk to look at was " ANIMALS FOR SALE " ...

 

I'm asking people in WAZA and AZA if this is normal for zoos to have on

their general home page? Are zoos still in the business of selling animals??

 

Up until now, I guess I thought when animals were " traded " between zoos,

this was done more subtly ... guess I have a lot to learn!

 

Jane Dewar