NSPCA Newsletter

www.nspca.co.za

E-NEWSLETTER 20 MAY 2010 WILDLIFE UNIT During a trip by the Wildlife Unit to the Garden Route area, joint inspections were undertaken with inspectors from the Oudtshoorn, George and Mosselbay SPCAs to various wildlife facilities in the areas between Oudtshoorn, Albertinia, Mosselbay, Klein Brak River, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Facilities included five elephant-back safari operators, six sanctuaries, one rehabilitation centre, one zoo, two bird farms and three reptile parks. Overall, the reception to the inspections was positive. No contraventions of the Animals Protection Act were identified although recommendations for improvements to diets, environmental enrichment and general hygiene were made. The relevant SPCAs will carry out follow up inspections. SPECIAL PROJECTS - BIRDS AND FISH Through our facilitation process with the pigeon racing industry, we are pleased to be able to record tangible results - not only regarding the proposed Code, but more recently, the agreement by stakeholders to no longer race pigeons over 1 000km. Global warming and climate change have rendered the distance inhumane according to experts involved. We support this stance and commend the industry for taking this decision. We are currently also working on the solutions to the humane removal of fish from a dam that requires repairs. The matter initially appeared simple - move fish, process fish, fix dam. The consultants' requirements are conflicting: they need to move the fish and if euthanasia is necessary, then the fish are intended for human consumption. These are exotic fish about which Nature Conservation has policies. The NSPCA has concerns that humane euthanasia and human consumption of them are not necessarily in harmony, as the fish would be put through the additional stress of transport to the processing plant etc. This issue is ongoing. Almost on a daily basis, we are faced with questions and scenarios which highlight the growth of aquaculture and the important role of welfare within this growing industry. Stakeholders agree that fish have the ability to feel pain and certainly suffer from stress as a result of human contact. MOZAMBIQUE We were delighted to hear from the Mozambique Animal Protection Society (MAPS) that they now have a base, are starting a membership drive and have exciting plans for the future. It is good news indeed that our neighbouring country now has a welfare organisation with whom we can liaise as issues can be "cross-border" in nature and animals in Mozambique desperately need assistance. MAPS stated that they have no problem if we forward their newsletter. Please send us a mail if you would like to see it and we shall forward it to you with pleasure. Until next time With kind regards Chris Kuch

Disclaimer:The information in this message is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this message by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, or distribution of the message, or any action or omission taken by you in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Please immediately contact the sender if you have received this message in error.To unsubscribe: http://www.nspca.co.za/other.aspx?page=Newsletter