2019
FREE LAMMIE PROTEST OUTSIDE THE JOBURG ZOO
https://rosebankkillarneygazette.co.za/245888/watch-big-bat-freelammie-protest-outside-joburg-zoo/
9th February 2019
“BAN ANIMAL TRADING protested for the release of Lammie the elephant outside the Johannesburg Zoo on Jan Smuts Avenue on the 9th February 2019. This follows in the wake of worldwide campaigns to have Lammie released to an elephant sanctuary after the death of her companion, Kinkel in September last year.”
A GLOBAL VALENTINE’S PLEA TO SET FREE LAMMIE THE LONELY ELEPHANT
15th February 2019
“People from around the world, including international celebrities Joanna Lumley, Evanna Lynch and Jan Leeming pleaded with the Johannesburg Zoo to have a heart on Valentines Day and agree to free Lammie, a 39 year old female elephant who lives a lonely existence since her mate Kinkel died in September 2018.”
SOWETO ANIMAL RESCUE AND ADVISORY CENTRE PROTESTS TO FREE LAMMIE FROM THE JOHANNESBURG ZOO
13th April 2019
Jerry Selwane the founder of the Soweto Animal Rescue and Advisory Centre (SARAC) worked for the SPCA for eighteen years realised that an animal rescue centre was desperately needed in Soweto. Using his life savings he opened a small centre where he gives hope to abused animals and education. SARAC are authorised to arrest and prosecute offenders committing acts of cruelty towards animals.
Jerry Selwane attend the protest on Saturday 13th of April 2019 held outside the Johannesburg Zoo.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST OFFERS Joburg Zoo R1M FOR FREEDOM OF ELEPHANTS
3rd July 2019
“Environmental activist John Varty has offered R1m for the freedom of the elephants from the Johannesburg Zoo. “It has been agreed worldwide by forward-thinking countries that elephants are not suitable for zoos. They are very social animals, they live in herds and to confine them to a small enclosure is totally unacceptable.”
MMC for community development Nonhlanhla Sifumba said that: “space to roam will always be a contentious issue, this is not the only critical factor.”
JOBURG ZOO DISMISSES ACTIVISTS R1M OFFER FOR THREE ELEPHANTS AS A PUBLICITY STUNT
4th July 2019
“The Johannesburg Zoo dismissed environmental activist and wildlife filmmaker John Varty’s R1M offer for its three elephants as a publicity stunt. City Parks and Zoo spokesperson Jenny Moodley told News24 that the offer was “another one of his typical publicity stunts” to which they would not be responding.”
JOBURG ZOO THREATENS TO SUE ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP OVER DISTRESSED ELEPHANTS VIDEO
JOBURG ZOO SUES ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS FOR VIRAL VIDEO SHOWING TRAUMATISED ELEPHANTS
15th August 2019
“The Johannesburg Zoo is suing BAN ANIMAL TRADING and the National Council of SPCA’s for criticising their World Elephant Day ‘celebrations’ and for sharing footage of the zoo’s traumatised elephants online.
BAT’s video showed the bewildered and visibly traumatised elephants in front of scores of excited visitors. It was viewed more than 38 000 times on Facebook.
Joburg Zoo says the posts are defamatory. The lawyers letter to BAT demands that they be withdrawn and an apology issued. The NSPCA confirms that they have received similar legal documents.
BAT shared the lawyers letter online saying “Free the Johannesburg Zoo Elephants”. They say it is concerning that the Zoo would use taxpayers money to sue Non-Profit Organisations working in the interest of animals. The Zoo has been critiqued for spending almost R1 million more than the market value for the two new elephants.”
BAN ANIMAL TRADING REFUSES TO SUBMIT TO JOBURG ZOO’S BULLYING TACTICS
https://rosebankkillarneygazette.co.za/259981/sarah33zoosuesbat-2/
17th August 2019
“Director of BAN ANIMAL TRADING Smaragda Louw said: “I am not apologising for highlighting cruel, outdated issues. We will not remove the Facebook posts. This is a bullying tactic of the Zoo who is trying to silence us. They have three elephants at the Zoo in an enclosure which is way too small. I hope they feel ashamed. Its pathetic that they would use taxpayers money to highlight cruelty to animals.”
Lawyers for the Zoo, Moodie and Robertson stated in their letter to BAT that the Facebook posts liken the Zoo to a circus, insinuate that the Zoo is incompetent, allege that the Zoo is dishonest, allege that the Zoo had created an inadequate living environment for the elephants and allege that the Zoo is exploiting elephants, which Moodie and Roberston believe to be false. The lawyers requested an apology and withdrawal of the posts within 24 hours of receiving the letter, failing which an urgent application for the immediate removal of the offending posts and interdictory relief preventing BAT from further acts of defamation will be issued.
BAT will be campaigning outside the Zoo on the 17th of August from noon until and 1.30pm.
BAN ANIMAL TRADING PROTESTS OUTSIDE JOBURG ZOO AGAINST INCARCERATED ELEPHANTS
17th August 2019
BAN ANIMAL TRADING protested outside the Joburg Zoo in opposition to the alleged incarcerated three elephants. This protest follows the outcry by parts of the community who say that tricks performed by Mopane on World Elephant Day at the Zoo were a display of circus tricks and as such reported animal cruelty.