Buffalo City Metro (BCM) is finally making plans to refurbish the boundary fence and animal shelters at the East London Zoo.
In a tender issued at end of last month, the metro called on bidders to provide professional consultancy services for the refurbishment of the boundary wall and “critical” animal shelters in the zoo upgrade programme.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said the upgrade will include new boundary walls at the brown lion, civet and wolf enclosures, the building of an indoor gibbon night room, refurbishment of the wild dog enclosure and the building of a new sungazer enclosure, as well as a new green iguana exhibit.
Also included is the building of a new room onto the existing staff area.
“The zoo upgrade programme also includes the refurbishment of the safety barriers, refurbishing the paving and pathways in the zoo grounds and the electrification of various aviaries to install heated sleeping areas,” said Matebese.
Also on the agenda is fencing to secure the zoo workshop area.
The Dispatch last year reported on two incidents where visitors were robbed of their belongings while visiting the facility.
Matebese said BCM law enforcement officials have since been requested to routinely patrol the area close to the taxi rank and to remove vagrants who access the zoo grounds.
“The zoo has not had any attacks on members of the public in the last couple of months, as the bush area has been cleared.
“The building of the boundary wall will definitely improve the security of the zoo for the visitors, animals and staff,” said Matebese.
In 2013 BCM DA councillor and head of the King William’s Town SPCA Annette Rademeyer tabled a motion for the city to close the facility due to neglect.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday Rademeyer said: “Any kind of upgrade to the zoo is great, especially if the upgrade will entail enlarging enclosures, heightening the boundary fence and also making enclosures environmentally enriched for the animals.”
The last time there were any upgrades at the zoo was in August 2013, when the metro spent a bit more than R600000 on sprucing it up.
The entrance was renovated, a wheelchair ramp was built and new ablution blocks were built.
Matebese said the new project would take place over several years, but hopefully this phase would be complete by 2016.
“The zoo will continue with upgrade programmes subject to the availability of funds and the extent of the upgrades will be determined by the funding,” he said. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
Metro upgrade of city zoo to benefit animals
In a tender issued at end of last month, the metro called on bidders to provide professional consultancy services for the refurbishment of the boundary wall and “critical” animal shelters in the zoo upgrade programme.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said the upgrade will include new boundary walls at the brown lion, civet and wolf enclosures, the building of an indoor gibbon night room, refurbishment of the wild dog enclosure and the building of a new sungazer enclosure, as well as a new green iguana exhibit.
Also included is the building of a new room onto the existing staff area.
“The zoo upgrade programme also includes the refurbishment of the safety barriers, refurbishing the paving and pathways in the zoo grounds and the electrification of various aviaries to install heated sleeping areas,” said Matebese.
Also on the agenda is fencing to secure the zoo workshop area.
The Dispatch last year reported on two incidents where visitors were robbed of their belongings while visiting the facility.
Matebese said BCM law enforcement officials have since been requested to routinely patrol the area close to the taxi rank and to remove vagrants who access the zoo grounds.
“The zoo has not had any attacks on members of the public in the last couple of months, as the bush area has been cleared.
“The building of the boundary wall will definitely improve the security of the zoo for the visitors, animals and staff,” said Matebese.
In 2013 BCM DA councillor and head of the King William’s Town SPCA Annette Rademeyer tabled a motion for the city to close the facility due to neglect.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday Rademeyer said: “Any kind of upgrade to the zoo is great, especially if the upgrade will entail enlarging enclosures, heightening the boundary fence and also making enclosures environmentally enriched for the animals.”
The last time there were any upgrades at the zoo was in August 2013, when the metro spent a bit more than R600000 on sprucing it up.
The entrance was renovated, a wheelchair ramp was built and new ablution blocks were built.
Matebese said the new project would take place over several years, but hopefully this phase would be complete by 2016.
“The zoo will continue with upgrade programmes subject to the availability of funds and the extent of the upgrades will be determined by the funding,” he said. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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