PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Thanks to public outcry, the animals at the Giraffe View Safari Camp in Plettenberg Bay have escaped culling. This week, more than 60 animals were relocated to the Eastern Cape in what has been dubbed "Operation: Noah".
After it came to light that there were plans to cull some of the game park's animals, residents not only took to social media to voice their concerns, but also launched a campaign to block the entrance of the park on Sunday 17 October to prevent a culling team from entering.
This, however, turned out to be unnecessary, as the owner, Leon de Kock, halted the operation in favour of looking for an alternative.
De Kock said that the intended culling operation was part of game management. He said the property, which is home to giraffe, zebra, impala, wildebeest, waterbuck, bontebok, springbok and bushbuck, was over-stocked threefold and fears existed that the animals could starve this year. The culling was a last resort - one he had been putting off for five years "for this very reason".
De Kock placed a hold on the culling and invited members of the public to contact him if they were interested in relocating some of the animals.
His invitation was met and, according to long-term tenant and custodian of the animals Vicki Reid, Operation: Noah took place on Saturday 30 October, headed by the Karoo Donkey Sanctuary. This involved the relocation of six Southern giraffes, 50 blue wildebeest and six zebras to the Gondwana Game reserve near Mossel Bay. The 11 000-hectare conservancy is located 160km away.
Peekaboo!
Reid has in the meantime set up a crowd-funding campaign to establish a giraffe rescue and research centre. "I have a burning vision to purchase the reserve and remaining animals, currently on the market for R20-million," she said.
She is establishing a trust to set up the centre and urges others to help her reach the purchase price. So far, about R13 500 has been raised. Those interested in assisting Reid, can visit here.
De Kock said the other animals are not for sale and that the relocation was part of reducing the number of animals for game management purposes.
Transporting giraffe requires quite a large team.
Giraffe View Safari Camp giraffes enjoy their new home at the Gondwana Game Reserve near Mossel Bay.
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