High Court ruling prevents Bloemfontein zoo from reopening amid animal welfare concerns

THE Bloemfontein Zoo will remain closed after the High Court of South Africa, Free State Division, granted an order prohibiting its re-opening unless strict conditions are met.

The ruling, made on 19 September, is a major victory for the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA), which has been fighting against the zoo’s re-opening due to concerns over animal welfare.

The court order prevents the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality from accepting any wild or exotic animals without proper permits and blocks the zoo from housing any threatened or protected species without complying with the Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) Regulations.

Additionally, the zoo cannot operate until a formal budget is passed by the municipal council to ensure sustainable management.

The NSPCA welcomed the ruling, stating that it effectively prevents the zoo from resuming operations.

“We are pleased to announce that our application to the High Court will prevent the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality from re-opening the zoo unless they comply with stringent conditions, which we believe are unlikely to be met,” the NSPCA said in a statement.

The organisation has been critical of the zoo’s past treatment of animals, which led to its closure in 2020. “The NSPCA took this urgent action due to the severe suffering that animals at the Bloemfontein Zoo were subjected to,” they added, referring to the mistreatment the animals faced before the zoo’s closure.

In addition to the court’s order, the NSPCA will meet with the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) to ensure that no permits are issued unless substantial improvements are made.

“There is no place for archaic practices like zoos,” the NSPCA emphasized, reaffirming their commitment to ending animal cruelty.