Mitchell Park Zoo closes doors for repairs
The Mitchell Park Zoo in Durban Central has been closed for repairs.
A Durban resident recently expressed shock over the zoo’s condition.
eThekwini Municipality has confirmed the closure of the zoo, saying unsafe playground equipment and exposed concrete surfaces, worsened by flooding, have led to the temporary shutdown.
The confirmation comes after local Ben Trovato took to social media to describe the state he says the facility was in during a visit last week.
He says the cordoned-off playground was in a terrible state and likened the zoo to a bombing site with a series of empty, dilapidated cages.
Trovato says the only animals he saw were two sad-looking rabbits, a moth-eaten alpaca, and a few tortoises.
READ: eThekwini ‘attending’ to water disruptions in city
He believes the R16 entrance fee was certainly not being spent on maintenance and called for the zoo’s closure and for the surviving animals to be moved to a sanctuary.
The city says the 100-year-old park has suffered extensive damage over the years due to harsh weather, including recent floods.
It insists that over 700 animals are cared for daily by a dedicated team who feed them and clean their enclosures.
The animals will remain on-site and be moved around the facility during repairs, while birds will be relocated to Umgeni Bird Park.
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