Update
MOSSEL BAY NEWS - CapeNature spokesperson Luke Folb confirmed to Mossel Bay Advertiser that Mossel Bay Municipality's captivity permit to keep tortoises at Harry Giddey Park expired in 2022.
Folb said that the matter of the expired permit would be followed up with the municipality and the euthanasia of the tortoises would also be followed up with the municipality and the SPCA.
Folb said standard conditions regarding captivity include that a register be kept to reflect any changes in numbers and the nature of such changes.
He said: "The permit holder is responsible for the welfare of the wild animals listed on the captivity permit and must ensure they have sufficient space, shelter, water and food.
"The onus is on the permit holder to renew the permit if wild animals are still kept in captivity."
The Advertiser previously reported that in addition to the handover of the tortoises, all the Harry Giddey Park animals were handed over to the Garden Route SPCA Mossel Bay.
Mossel Bay Municipality said that due to heavy rains in 2023, there was substantial rain damage in the park, resulting in the existing bird cages needing to be rebuilt. It said for this reason, this section of the park is not currently open to the public.
'Stressed'
It said that with construction processes under way, the "animals and birds in the park became stressed, which in some resulted in illness" and that following consultation with valued partners, including the SPCA and other experts, it was decided to act in the best interest of the resident animals and birds and, therefore, relocate them.
It added that until development plans are finalised and the construction process has been completed, Harry Giddey Park will not house animals or birds.
Questions
This week the Advertiser asked the GRSPCA Mossel Bay branch how many tortoises were handed over to it, how many were euthanised, the condition of the other animals handed over and if homes had been found for the park animals.
GRSPCA Mossel Bay branch manager Elize Goosen said she would comment at a later stage.
Municipality
The municipality was sent several questions, including:
• Where did the tortoises come from and how long had they been there?
• How many tortoises were allowed at the park, based on the permit?
• How many tortoises were euthanised and why? Were all the tortoises in the park euthanised?
• What other animals were kept at the park? How many were handed to the SPCA in total?
• What is the name of the contagious disease that affected the tortoises? How often was a vet commissioned to visit the park to check on the health of the tortoises and other animals? If this was not done, why? What were the symptoms shown by the tortoises?
• What were the conditions of the other animals kept in the park?
• What development is planned for the park?
• Will animals be kept at the park once construction is finished?
Response
The municipality responded:
"The municipality noted the Mossel Bay community's concerns in relation to newspaper articles in Mossel Bay Advertiser regarding the euthanising and the removal of animals from Harry Giddey Park.
"The management of the park and welfare of all animals concerned are of utmost importance to the municipality and it is with deep regret that animals had to be euthanised and removed. A full press release will be issued without undue delay, alleviating and addressing the concerns of the community."
Facebook
The Mossel Bay Municipality issued a statement on its Facebook page on Thursday afternoon, 31 October.
"Severe flooding between December 2022 and January 2023 resulted in significant damage to parts of Harry Giddey Park, a historic municipal park in Mossel Bay located in the town centre.
The Harry Giddey Park forms one of Mossel Bay's natural waterways, with the underground stormwater network flowing from the adjacent site, Laerskool Park, through the park to the sea. The pipes were first damaged before ultimately collapsing.
Some of the various bird cages that were built many years ago suffered significant damage, with the result that the cages had to be rebuilt. Consequently, during the construction process, the area in the park where animals and birds were housed had to be closed to visitors temporarily.
Notable damage was caused especially to the various bird cages that were built many years ago, with the result that the cages had to be rebuilt. During the construction process, including the filling of sinkholes, repair of storm water pipes, walkways and a stone barrier adjacent to Primary School Park, the area in the park where a variety of animals and birds are housed had to be temporarily closed to visitors.
With the start of the repair work, it appeared as if the building work had a negative impact on some of the park's resident animals and birds.
Since the establishment of the Harry Giddey Park, CapeNature and the Animal Protection Society have made regular visits to check on the animal camps. These visits sometimes also included training for the park staff.
No animals and birds were purchased by the municipality, but over the years with the establishment of the park some 15 years ago, received as donations from the community.
Contracted municipal pound
The municipality therefore appealed to the SPCA, the contracted municipal pound, to visit the park and make recommendations.
During this visit in October 2024, the municipality recommended that some of the animals and birds be handed over to the SPCA for assessment and repatriation to their original habitat.
Specialist veterinary practitioners were consulted and advised that the tortoises, which were among the park's resident animals and appeared to be suffering from a communicable infection, should be humanely euthanized and disposed of.
Although animals will not be housed in the park until repairs as mentioned have been completed, the municipality is committed to preserving and managing the Harry Giddey Park, which forms an important part of Mossel Bay's heritage, for the wider community's benefit, unrestricted access and enjoyment. The
Harry Giddey Park forms an integral part of Mossel Bay's historical wealth and therefore, among other things, Mossel Bay Heritage is known in all decisions.
The Mossel Bay Municipality takes its role in the conservation of Mossel Bay's fauna and flora seriously. During the past week, the executive management of the Mossel Bay municipality met with the SPCA to discuss the recent events regarding the Harry Giddey Park, as well as the way forward."
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