Benoni SPCA against rabbits being sent to zoo as pet food
The SPCA in Benoni has spoken out against the donation of rabbits to the Johannesburg Zoo.
The furry creatures are to be fed to carnivorous zoo animals.
The animal welfare organisation will now insist on being present when the animals are loaded into a vehicle for transportation to the zoo.
In a statement it says it has various welfare concerns.
"We will insist on being present at the loading of these animals before transportation and any contravention of the Animals Protection Act, will result in the immediate halt of this 'project'. We cannot stop this decision, and would much prefer for each rabbit to be individually, humanely euthanised with the dignity they deserve."
The City of Ekurhuleni says the donation is being made in order to get rid of excess rabbits at the Benoni Bunny Park.
Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe says the excessive rabbits in the park have 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.
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"While the practice of free roaming rabbits at the Bunny Park is an inherited and accepted management practice, it has however, became an increasing concern to animal rights organisations in recent years especially in relation to inbreeding. We have decided that from a zoological point of view, this is no longer the best practice," Gadebe says.