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Latest news

• High rainfall causes graves to collapse in Olifantsvlei Cemetery

  

   

  Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, together with the risk assessment team are at Olifantsvlei Cemetery to identify the extent of the damages caused by the persistent, high rains in the last 48 hours in the City of Joburg.

  Initial reports indicate that burials in the new section that took place in the past three weeks have been seriously impacted.

  The rains have caused graves and headstones to collapse, and has washed away memorials placed on the graves.

  Affected families are urged to make contact with cemetery personnel including the Manager of Cemeteries, Mr Reggie Moloi on 011 028 0092, after hours on 082 803 0655 or on email at rmoloi@jhbcityparks.com. Families are also welcome to come to the Cemetery personally.

  The recently opened Olifantsvlei Cemetery that extends over 400 hectares and will accommodate for 800 000 burials has conducted just under 9000 burials to date, with an average of 120 burials per week.

  MMC for Community Development in the City of Joburg, Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba, appealed to families to contact the cemetery and to assist where possible in reinstating graves.

  Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, will make available sand and will refill graves once the rains subside.

   

• NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

  

  Notice is hereby given that the 17th Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder of the Company will be held at The Joburg Theatres, 163 Civic Boulevard(Previously Loveday Street), Braamfontein at 08:00 on Friday, 18th April 2018.

  JCPZ AGM Invite
  Johannesburg City Parks NPC : Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2017
  The Johannesburg Zoo NPC : Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2017

   

• Endangered Wattled crane born in captivity - is a huge victory for conservation in the City of Joburg

  

  Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) the custodians of nature conservation and greening in the City of Joburg, has cracked the code for captive breeding of the endangered Wattled crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) which is the continent’s rarest of crane species.

  On the eve of the Joburg Zoo commemorating 114 years of conservation, a second surviving fledgling has hatched on 9 February 2018 as part of a surrogate-reared, Wattled crane breeding programme in partnership with Ezemvelo Wildlife and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). The partnership was established at the Joburg Zoo’s conservatory in Parys, South Africa in 2010

  The surviving chick that hatched on 19 July 2017, remains healthy and active and is oblivious to the watchful eyes of its costume dressed surrogate parents. The fledgling will remain in captivity and will be reared together with the recently hatched chick. Once fully socialized, the fledglings will be released into the wild as part of a pairing and mating programme, to boost diminishing numbers of tWattled crane. .

  Three (3) births were recorded in captivity by the Joburg Zoo, with the first chick succumbing due to its inability to be acclimatized. This was followed by the ground breaking, second birth in 2017 and a subsequent birth this year, indicating that the programme is a masterstrokefor the advancement of conservation of the critically endangered Wattle crane.

  Dwindling numbers of the species remain threatened by the destruction of wetlands; rapid urbanisation and the illegal collection of their eggs. Typically the close-knit breeding pair of Wattled cranes produce one egg, and on the off chance that a second egg is produced, the breeding pair will generally abandon the second egg once the first egg hatches.

  The breeding programme is then designed to collect the abandoned egg from the wild and puppet-rear the chick after incubation, to prevent human imprinting. Costumed caretakers introduce the young cranes to life in the wild and teach them to forage and to avoid threats from predators such as Jackals. Once the breeding flock produces a significant number of chicks, their offspring, along with any additional chicks produced from abandoned wild eggs, will be reared and released into existing Wattled Crane flocks in an effort to bolster the population in the wild.

  The Wattled crane is the largest of the cranes species, is predominantly white including its wattles with ash-grey wings, striking black under carriage and tail, and is remarkably distinguishable by its famed red beak covered by bumps. It forages in mostly marshy areas, dining on aquatic insects or snails, tubers or on reeds – that is if you are fortunate enough to encounter a rare sighting of this magnificent bird that is estimated to have a life expectancy of between 20 and 30 years in the wild.

  Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba commended the Conservation team at Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo for championing the Wattled Crane conservation programme and was hopeful that these first steps in breeding the species in captivity, signals that we can reverse the decline in the number of Wattled cranes found along marshy areas.

  Historically, Wattled cranes were far more abundant and widely distributed throughout South Africa. Sadly, a 38% decline over the last two decades has left the critically endangered population at a high risk of extinction in the wild.

  A scarce 310 specimens remain in South Africa with the most significant population residing in isolated pockets in KwaZulu Natal. Wattled Cranes are already locally extinct in neighbouring countries such as Lesotho and Swaziland.

  Issued by
  MMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba
  Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development
  City of Johannesburg

   

• Auditor General announces clean audit for Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo

  

   

  Johannesburg City Park and Zoo (JCPZ) the greening entity that oversees the management of parks, street trees, conservation, cemeteries and the Zoo obtained its first clean audit since it was established in 2001, for the 2016/17 financial year.

  This is a massive feat for the greening entity that has seen its portfolio increasing in line with rapid urbanization; employee numbers dwindling due to natural attrition and an ever-increasing demand for developed, safe, clean and well managed spaces including burial sites.

  For the period, under review, the entity had to also deliver sans the support of a Chief Finance Officer compounded by budgetary constraints stemming from more pressing and competing needs within the City of Joburg.

  The entity further increased its satisfaction levels across key performance areas by 5%, to 80% thereby reinforcing its commitment to service delivery with pride. “Lessons have been learnt from the past,” stated the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Joburg, Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba who commended all departments within Johannesburg City Parks and the Zoo.

  “Securing a clean audit in a fast paced metropolis like Joburg, on the backdrop of managing inclement weather-related challenges; safety and security demands; unemployment, a compelling need for community-based jobs and ad hoc requirements for veterinary medical services at the Joburg Zoo – is testimony to an entity that is highly committed to accountability and good governance,” added Sifumba.

  Highlights assessed in report to the Auditor General included, the:

  • Reinstatement of the Joburg Zoo’s accreditation to the Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZAB);
  • Completion of Phase 6 of the Olifantsvlei Cemetery to provide 800 000 new burial sites in the City;
  • Concluded the construction of a multi-level parkade at the Joburg Zoo to bolster Zoo visitor numbers and to address illegal parking around the Zoo;
  • Completed the new wing at the Zoo’s Veterinarian Hospital to strengthen animal welfare;
  • Developed 6 new multi-functional parks to nurture healthy minds and bodies;
  • Created 2 265 community-based jobs to address poverty and unemployment;
  • Generation of R93.5m in revenue to augment the subsidy provided by the City;
  • Reached 63 106 beneficiaries through environmental education and awareness;
  • Achieved 96 % on its service delivery key performance indicators; and
  • Recorded 448 769 visitors from gate-takings at the Joburg Zoo.

  The entity would like to recognize its many supporters such as the media, residential associations, security companies, corporates, trusts funds and the many individuals who generously donate their time, services and goods to our animals and parks. This achievement is also in part due to the many service providers to JCPZ that provide quality services to enable the entity to fulfill its horticulture and conservation mandates.

  “Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is on track to securing a clean audit for the current financial year and put in place all monitoring mechanisms to ensure that employees comply with stringent procurement processes,” stated Sifumba.

  Issued by
  Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba
  The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development
  City of Johannesburg

   

   

• Annual Pass - Become a Member 2018

  

  Come along on an adventure and experience the Johannesburg Zoo family of more than 2000 animals and 380 species in the timeless and beautiful zoological gardens.

  Zoo regular operating hours: Mon-Sun: 8:30 – 17:h30

  Sign up for the AnnualPass and you will enjoy the following benefits:

  • Unlimited entry to Johannesburg Zoo for one full year
  • FREE car parking at Johannesburg Zoo

  Prices

  Adult	R675
  Child	R414
  Pensioner	R414

  Children ages 3 & under FREE

  Entry of your membership includes the Zoo Trot.

  Terms of Purchase

  • Membership to the Johannesburg Zoo is NOT transferable. Only named individuals on the membership card(s) are members of the Zoo and are eligible to enjoy all the benefits of the Zoo membership.
  • Presentation of photo ID for admission and benefits. To ensure that only current members enjoy the benefits of Zoo membership, we request that Each member, together with their zoo membership card, present their ID for verification of identity.
  • Use of membership by unauthorized persons will result in forfeiture of the membership.
  • Replacement of card will be charged at R30.00.
  • Annual pass membership excludes Tours, Holiday Programmes and Events.

  Fill out the Application Form and send the completed form with the proof of payment to Ioanna@jhbzoo.org.za

   

• Adopt an Animal at Joburg Zoo

  

  Animal adoption is fun and you can adopt any animal, no matter how big or small. The Adoption Programme enables individuals, corporations, schools, clubs, families and groups to participate and make a valuable contribution towards the care and enrichment of all the animals living at the Johannesburg Zoo. So the adoption fees not only help us to take care of the animals the money also goes towards the protection of endangered species.

  As a non profit organization we are in need of funds for supporting all species and upgrading facilities. In addition your contribution provides the necessary help to advance the zoo’s work with wildlife conservation organizations worldwide.

  It is also a rare opportunity to teach children and adults to take care of living creatures and to understand the environment that wild animals belong to.

  You can help make a difference. Adopt an Animal is a great gift for friend and family celebrations and for special occasions. Your adoption will last one year from the date of joining and is renewable if you so wish.

  Attached is a small selection list of the different animals and creatures you can adopt and enjoy at the Johannesburg Zoo. All animals adopted are symbolic adoptions and remain within the Zoo. Animal choices are subject to change, if for reasons, the animal that you have adopted, needs to be removed from the zoo then your adoption will be transferred to another animal of your choice.

  In advance we thank you for your precious contribution and for your ongoing commitment to Johannesburg Zoo.

  List of some of the animals at Joburg Zoo: Siberian Tiger, Lion, Honey Badger, Pot Bellied Pig, Gorilla, Red Panda, Ruffled Lemur, snake, Giraffe, Hippo, Rhino, Elephant, Axis Deer, Blue Crane, Monkey and many more.

  To arrange an adoption, fill out the Adoption Application Form and send the completed form with payment to Ioanna@jhbzoo.org.za. The form also includes information about the packages and animals available for adoption. If you do not see the animal of your choice, please contact the Zoo.

   

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