Panjo gets some friends
2010-08-30 10:55
Johannesburg - As Panjo gets ready to receive two new friends, the tiger's owner is still facing an investigation by the Limpopo department of nature conservation.
Despite the investigation, the department issued travel permits for two tigers bought by Goosey Fernandes.
The Bengal tiger became famous recently when he escaped from his owner's bakkie. He was found two days later after a huge search in an area between Bronkhorstspruit and Groblersdal.
Afterwards, the department fined Fernandes R1500 because he had been driving around with Panjo without a travel permit.
Travel permits
Fernandes has now bought another two tame tigers from the Lion and Rhino Park on the West Rand, and wants to take them to his game farm, Jugomaro. Alice is a five-year-old Bengal tiger and Apollo, a Siberian tiger, is four years old.
Fernandes said he struggled to get approval for his application for travel permits, which were sent on August 20.
Spokesperson for the department, Joshua Kwapa, said although the travel permits had been approved, Fernandes's application for show permits had been turned down.
"A threatened species is involved and the safety and well-being of the animals is taken into account. He can take the tigers to his farm, but not show them."
He said the department is still investigating Fernandes's ability to look after wild tigers and whether all his permits are valid. "Several aspects are being investigated."
According to Fernandes, the new tigers had been raised by hand by John Wagenaar, also known as the Tiger Man, who had sold them to him.
He will also not transport the tigers in the back of his Ford F250 bakkie, from which Panjo had escaped.
"The park will lend me two special cages, which I will tow with this bakkie and a similar one. John and a vet, who will tranquilise the animals properly, will accompany us."
'I love big cats'
Fernandes said he would put Alice with Panjo in his cage to "be a mate for him" and he would later get a mate for Apollo.
"In a few weeks time, I will get a white tiger cub, Zingela, (named after the Weimeraner Zingela who had found the tiger), that I will raise by hand and who will be Panjo's breeding mate."
He was angry about rumours that he wanted to breed with the tigers and raise the cubs for canned hunting.
"I will breed with them but no animal will be hunted on my farm. I love big cats and give them a place of safety.
"People who accuse me of wanting to do something to my cats, are just jealous. Anyone is welcome to come and see how well my cats are being treated."