Benoni bunnies to be fed to zoo animals

It plans to donate the animals to the zoo to feed the carnivores.

The Municipality plans to leave only 50 sterilised rabbits homed in separate enclosures.

"The excessive rabbits in the park has presented various challenges such as lack of control over the population growth, which leads to inbreeding and decline in intrinsic immunity, resulting in the outbreak of disease and high parasite loads," says Ekurhuleni Metro spokesman Themba Gadebe.

The City’s policy in keeping of livestock, makes provision for the disposal of excess livestock through a number of ways including selling the excess animals and donation of animals.

"Already, 750 rabbits were sterilised at the cost of R300 000 and sent to new homes; and despite this costly exercise an estimated 2 000 rabbits remain in the park and it would not be financially viable to attempt to sterilise them all," Gadebe says.

Scores of people have taken to social media to voice their anger about the decision.