Midvaal set to review bylaws on exotic animals after tiger escape
Midvaal’s MMC for Corporate Services Chantal Gomes says the municipality is in the process of reviewing and strengthening by-laws to regulate the ownership of exotic wild animals.
This comes after a female tiger Sheba escaped from her enclosure at Walker’s Fruit Farm, south of Johannesburg over the weekend, attacking a man and killing at least three domestic animals.
The eight-year-old tiger was euthanised on Wednesday morning.
Gomes says the incident clearly shows there is a need for the municipality to strengthen its bylaws.
"There is a National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act, and this regulates the activities around exotic wild animals.
“But on a provincial level, each province has their own rules and regulations around exotic animals. So in Gauteng, the only legislation is that; should you want to export, import or transport an exotic animal, you are then required to get a permit.
“But should you want to own one, you actually don't need to have a permit to do so.
“So something that has come out of this whole incident is that as a municipality, one of the things that we can take authority over is our municipal bylaws.”
Gomes says while the process will take time, discussions have already begun.
"The bylaws take approximately a year from the starting point to actually getting them promulgated and the finishing. It is sadly not a short-term process.”
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