By Ashtyn Mackenzie and Sarah Koning – Rosebank Killarney Gazette
Two new elephants join new friend Lammie at the Joburg Zoo.
In the early hours of 13 June, two new elephants arrived at Joburg Zoo.
The sounds of the two new elephants grew closer in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Zoo staff and a veterinary team gathered around to witness the ushering in of two gentle giants.
The new elephants at Joburg Zoo, one male and one female, joined their new companion, Lammie, who will soon celebrate her 40th birthday.
The journey took a whopping 15 hours after the two elephants departed from the Eastern Cape around on 12 June.
Spokesperson for Joburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) Jenny Moodley said, “We have followed the correct procedures and we are fully compliant with the Zoo Elephant Management Plan and in line with best practice standards stipulated by World Association of Zoo and Aquariums (WAZA).”
- Zoo Elephant Management Plan; This is covered in Section 2.2 of the management plan, Research Needs.
History of the #FreeLammie saga:
Lammie was born at the Johannesburg Zoo. Photo: Sarah Koning
The Rosebank Killarney Gazette’s journalist Sarah Koning followed this story extensively from the celebration of Lammie’s 39th birthday to the death of her companion Kinkel.
Lammie’s previous companion Kinkel died in September 2018, sparking protests worldwide requesting that she be moved to an elephant sanctuary, where she can be free.
Organisations including the National Council of SPCAs, Ban Animal Trading, Humane Society South Africa and a number of other animal rights groups and elephant experts have signed petitions, arranged protests and campaigned for Lammie’s release, but to no avail.
Protesters from Ban Animal Trading conduct a silent picket outside Lammie’s enclosure at the Joburg Zoo. Photo: Sarah Koning
https://rosebankkillarneygazette.co.za/254642/history-of-lammie-protests/
