Home arrow Network News arrow Network News arrow Animal Protection Organisations and Government End Suffering of Female Elephant in Sabi Sands, SA
Animal Protection Organisations and Government End Suffering of Female Elephant in Sabi Sands, SA
Animal Rights Africa (ARA) was appalled by the news that managers at the prestigious private game reserve, Sabi Sands, adjoining Kruger National Park, had allowed an elephant cow to suffer for over two weeks with what appear to be birth complications.  The ongoing suffering of the elephant has been viewed by millions of people across the world via a live internet channel. 

ARA contacted the reserve head to ascertain why nothing was being done to help the animal and was told that the reserve followed a policy of “non-intervention” in cases where animal suffering or distress were the result of natural processes.

“I spoke to Jurie Moolman of Sabie Sands who informed me of their reserve’s non-intervention policy which precluded him from assisting the suffering elephant in any way,” said Steve Smit, spokesperson for ARA.  “I disagreed with his reasoning, after which he undertook to bring up the matter with the reserve’s ecological management committee at a meeting later today (September 29, 2009)”.

“Moolman said he was aware that the elephant was suffering and that it was very distressing for him to know this, but his hands were tied in terms of a management agreement with SANParks and the KNP whereby Sabie Sands is compelled not to intervene in cases like this,” Smit said.  “I immediately phoned Dr David Mabunda, CEO of SANParks who informed me that under no circumstances would SANParks support a management policy that permitted the prolonged suffering of any animal in the wild, irrespective of the cause of that suffering.  He added that in a case such as this one concerning the elephant cow, Sabie Sands has access to the veterinary and other assistance of  Kruger Park, and that this assistance should have been called for as soon as the suffering of the elephant became known.  Dr Mabunda assured me that he would immediately look into the matter.  He called back a short while later to tell me that the head Kruger Park vet was dealing with the matter and that he expected the issue to be resolved soon in the most humanely practical manner.”

Smit said that ARA was heartened by the prompt response of SANParks which showed that the welfare of individual animals and a duty to care is an important component of their management plan.

We were also pleased to learn that the NSPCA was taking the matter very seriously and had telephonically notified Moolman that they would consider legal action against Sabie Sands if it was shown that their actions so far were in contravention of the Animal Protection Act.

Contact person: Steve Smit +27 (0) 82 659 4711, Email – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

ARA website – www.animalrightsafrica.org

 

                          
 

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