There is a lot going on behind the scenes to involve the community in efforts of re-establishing a zoo for Bloemfontein.
Johan Snyman, a director of OurSA, says the zoo, as well as the surrounding public parks, are one of the first big projects in the organisation’s nature programme.
He explains that OurSA aims to have existing organisations and neighbourhood associations working towards a common goal.
“We already had talks with owners of game reserves who are eager to stock the zoo. But before we can do that, we need to draw up a memorandum of understanding with the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM).”
Snyman says they had tentative talks with the MMM, but with the new national administation team at the head, they still have to set a date for a meeting with the acting head of the social services department.
“After a meeting with them and an agreement finalised, we plan to draw up a complete business plan. We want to provide a long-term solution to establish a proper African zoo. To do that, we will have to create a new entity.”
Lindiwe Mokoena, executive officer and director of OurSA, says it is in everyone’s interest to work towards this common goal.
An earlier rescue plan to fix the zoo was initiated in 2013, but due to poor management this ultimately resulted in the zoo being closed in 2019.
Earlier this year, a group from OurSA and other interest groups cleaned up parts of the zoo. However, lots of work still needs to be done.
“There will also have to be a big capital investment to upgrade the zoo and get the infrastructure up to best practice enclosures and facilities,” says Snyman.
To do this, they are talking to businesses, scientists and other academics.
The idea is to establish a zoo similar to the Johannesburg Zoo, which is a public-private enterprise.
There are still 12 buffaloes in the Bloemfontein zoo, in two encampments, but they have to be moved because their camps are too small.
Interested parties can send an email to c@oursa.co.za, or contact Mokoena on 079-499-4962.
- Freedom Front Plus (FF+) councillors Mare-Lize Thomas and Valerie de Kock, and member of parliament for national council for provinces for the FF+, Adriaan de Bruin, went to inspect the buffaloes on Tuesday (30/08). The buffaloes, which include two calves, had enough fodder and appeared to be in good health.
