Social media user saddened by “disappointing” state of Pretoria Zoo
The social media users have raised concern over the dire state of the zoo.
Facebook user Therese De Lange recently visited the Pretoria Zoo and shared her experience on the social media platform.
According to De Lange, the zoo is in a disappointing state and is “very bad”.
She even shared images of the facility.
The images have left many users shook.
De Lange complained about the facility looking abandoned and that there are only a few animals in cages.
She even complained about a lack of water in cages.
Wat n teleerstelling vandag. Pretoria Zoo. Diere het geen water hokke is leeg. Dit is baie sleg en as daar diere is is...
Posted by Therese De Lange on Saturday, 10 April 2021
De Lange is not the only one who complained.
Michael Megannon also shared his experience.
"I went to the Pretoria zoo about 3 years ago and based on my experience, these pictures are exactly where I saw it going. The zoo was on its last legs, allowing people to party and drink and terrorise the animals and guests alike in their drunken state - I couldn't differentiate between Victoria Lake and the "zoo". (alcohol and golf carts are not a good combo). Sad and simply pathetic. Unlike most parastatal's that are eventually sold due to looting and poor management, this one joins the list of those that will not be resurrected by private ownership. Guess we will have to take our kids to Victoria Lake now," Megannon wrote on Facebook.
The Pretoria Zoo released a statement on Facebook. It denied some of the allegations made by the social media users.
It says all animals have access to fresh drinking water and the zoo has received substantial infrastructure funding that will allow it to start upgrading a lot of the habitats and visitor areas.
Read the full statement below.
More about the Pretoria Zoo...
The zoo was founded by J. W. B. Gunning in 1899.
According to its website, it is not only the largest zoo in South Africa but the only one with national status. It is also rated as one of the top zoos in the world.
The website reports that it hosts 3,117 specimens of 209 mammal species, 1,358 specimens of 202 bird species, 3,871 specimens of 190 fish species, 388 specimens of 4 invertebrate species, 309 specimens of 93 reptile species, and 44 specimens of 7 amphibian species
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Image courtesy of iStock/ @galitskaya