|
Shock over snake-filled fridge
14/06/2006 22:39 - (SA)
By Nkosana ka Makaula
Nelspruit - The future of the popular Croc River Reptile Park in Nelspruit is hanging by a thread.
Its owner, Fernando da Silva Natividade, has been charged with operating the facility without a permit since 2002 and failing to co-operate with conservation officials.
Appearing in the Nelspruit magistrate's court this week, he pleaded not guilty to four charges; three of which relate to operating without a permit or being in possession of certain live animals without a permit, and one of hindering or obstructing nature conservation officials in carrying out their duties.
He is conducting his own defence and lashed out at Mpumalanga Parks Board officials, accusing them of being "bullies" who were instrumental in not renewing his permit. He said officials harassed him and his staff and threatened them with arrest.
'Animals die'
Jakobus Pienaar, the control officer for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna in Mpumalanga, testified that the permit was meant to be renewed annually, but that Natividade had failed to apply for his permit to be renewed at the end of 2002.
In early 2003, a routine inspection was carried out at the reptile park, he said, and what officials found was shocking.
"There were two iguanas that were not fine. One had cancer in its legs and the other had clearly been recently injured. The crocodile pan was overcrowded. The tortoise pan was also overpopulated," he said.
But what shocked even hardened officials, he added, was a fridge full of dead snakes.
"Snakes of all shapes and sizes were stuffed into the fridge. My estimate would have been more than fifty. When we asked the curator why the snakes were in the fridge, he said "Animals die", but he could not explain why they were kept in the fridge, nor could he say what had caused the death of so many snakes," he said.
Pienaar said Natividade either failed to respond to letters, phone calls and e-mails or they were met with hostility. At various times, the MPB was threatened with legal action, he said.
The main bone of contention was the MPB's demand for an indication of the projected lifespan of the park, the qualifications of the staff, the names of the suppliers of food and medicines and their addresses, a business plan for the park and a list of vets, if any, who were working with the park. The MPB also wanted to know if the park had liability insurance in case a visitor was injured, attacked or killed on the facility.
Following the discovery of dead snakes in the fridge, the MPB also wanted to know if the park was a scientific research facility or an amusement park.
The MPB wanted to know the mortality rate in the park.
|
News
