-
A City of Johannesburg Media Statement
Friday, 3 July 2020
Release: Immediate
Surge in the illegal removal of street trees during lockdown
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo(JCPZ), the custodians responsible for greening, conservation and preservation of public open spaces in Joburg is appealing to residents to refrain from the illegal removal of trees.
City Parks and Zoo has been inundated with requests to remove trees during the seasonal phenomenon of falling leaves during this time of year. However, it is with grave concern to the city as we witness an upward surge of the unwarranted removal of trees by residents. Due to weather conditions, leaves fall into properties, gutters and swimming pools; residents are encouraged to cover their pools as opposed to removing trees.
Street trees are the property of the City of Johannesburg and are protected by the strict Open Space Bylaws which prohibits the removal or disturbance of trees or planting of any vegetation without approval, of which permission must be obtained from JCPZ. These bylaws state that ‘no person may damage any tree on any public road within the municipal area of the Council without the prior written permission from the Council, only JCPZ is authorised to remove, maintain and prune street trees.
Joburg is one of the most densely populated cities, with an influx of job seekers, a spike in student accommodation, high rise residential areas and infrastructural development. The abundance of indigenous trees plays a vital role in combating and reducing the effects of climate change as they not only absorb air pollutants, provide clean oxygen but also promotes a sense of tranquility and beauty in residential areas and metropolitans.
Leaves retain the earth’s moisture through mulching and can be used to make compost in gardens. The removal of healthy trees has an adverse effect on our birdlife, plants, biodiversity as well as the city’s economy. Green lungs play a critical role in improving the wellbeing and health of people living in cities.
We urge residents and communities to refrain from illegally removing and felling trees. Failing to comply will result in legal action and fines being imposed.
Illegal tree removals and requests to prune or fell trees, should be reported to trees@jhbcityparks.com or contact Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo on 011 712 6600 or Joburg Connect on 011 375 5555.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg
Media enquiries can be directed to: Noeleen Mattera: Stakeholder & Media Relations, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo T: 011 712-6722 / 07999 46345; E: nmattera@jhbcityparks.com ; W: www.jhbcityparks.com. Follow us on Twitter @JoburgParksZoo or on Facebook.
-
Media Advisory
City of Johannesburg Press Statement by Cllr Margaret Arnolds
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development
Monday, 22 June 2020
Release: Immediate
Joburg Zoo family keeps growing
The Johannesburg Zoo is excited to announce a few new additions the family. During the national lockdown, the care and well-being of all animals at the Joburg Zoo has been of paramount importance.
The staff at the zoo work tirelessly and under strict Covid regulations and are committed to the conservation of approximately 2000 animals, providing them with world class care and peace of mind.
Since April 2020, we were pleasantly surprised with a few newbies. A wild dog pup debuted in early April bringing much fuss in the enclosure. The wild dogs were moved to the Joburg Zoo in January 2014 from the Hoedspruit Endangered Wildlife Centre in Hoedspruit. Our latest member is loving its new environment while being bombarded with attention from the adult dogs. Wild dogs are an endangered species and hunted in the wild, with the new pup in town, the Zoo prides itself in increasing their numbers.
Other new members include 2 Springboks, a chimpanzee, an adorable little Llama, 2 Nyala, a Wattled Crane chick and 2 Auodad. The endangered Wattled Crane is one of the rarest of crane species in the world. This elegant yet curious bird, with its hasash-grey wings and famed red beak, is the largest of the crane species. Since 2019, City Parks and Zoo has hand-reared approximately 15 chicks through its breeding programmes in a bid to increase and preserve these rare species.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Joburg
Media Enquiries Media enquiries
Noeleen Mattera: Stakeholder & Media Relations, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo T: 011 712-6722; E: nmattera@jhbcityparks.com ; W: www.jhbcityparks.com
Follow us on Twitter @JoburgParksZoo or on Facebook
-
Media Statement
Tuesday, 23 June 2020
Makokou, the Joburg Zoo’s Silverback making a speedy recovery, after surgery
Makokou, the 35-year old, male, Western Lowland Gorilla who successfully underwent surgery at the Joburg Zoo on Saturday, 20 June 2020 is recuperating after a three-hour marathon operation that involved months of planning. CT scans, multiple blood tests, radiography, ultrasound, ophthalmic and dental examinations were conducted as part of the build-up to the surgery to remove polyps in his congested nasal passages.
Dr Kresen Pillay, one of the Joburg Zoo’s three veterinarians, confirmed that this was only the second documented operation of its kind in the world and that Makokou was doing great. “On Sunday he was a little sore, and pain relief medication was administered. He started eating and drinking and was more active by the afternoon. This morning he is bright, alert and active and we are extremely satisfied with his progress.”
The surgery was led by Dr Kobus Venter an ENT surgeon for human ear, nose and throat ailments with the assistance of Dr Gerhard Steenkamp and Dr Jose Carlo Almansa Ruiz. Drs. Steenkamp and Ruiz are vet specialists in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery, affiliated to the veterinary faculty of the University of Pretoria (UP). They were assisted by anesthesiologists from the same faculty.
The procedure for removing polyps is similar to that of humans, said Dr Pillay. “We are not certain of the underlying cause of the growth-tissue.” Numerous samples were collected and further tests will be conducted.
On Saturday the Zoo theatre was buzzing with the team, consisting of surgeons; anesthesiologists; technical support; vet nurses and a safety officer as well as the team from the Joburg Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital. A huge media contingent was in attendance as Makokou was being wheeled into theatre. He was swiftly attached to monitors and multiple medical apparatus as the medics maneuvered around the 210Kg gorilla in the centre of the room.
“He went under smoothly,” said Dr Pillay. “His blood pressure went up, but we brought it down again with medication, and he remained stable during the surgery.”
The team drew on the expertise from a similar case in Seattle in the United States, where in 2014 a gorilla underwent the same procedure. Because gorillas are so closely related to humans, the procedure for removing the polyps is similar.
Two monitors above Makokou’s head – one the CT scan of his head, the other an endoscopic nasal and sinus probe into his nasal passages – guided the surgery. “It was important that we had scans of other gorillas too,” added Dr Pillay.
The surgery came about after Makokou was found to be suffering from a chronic nasal discharge towards the latter part of 2019. He was airlifted to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) in May 2020 and then again on 6 June where he had a CT scan. The scanning apparatus at OVAH is large enough to handle a massive animal, the size of Makokou. A biopsy was performed, and it revealed that he had chronic rhinitis with inflammatory polyps developing in his nasal passages which is an uncommon occurrence in gorillas. There was some concern at first that he could have nasal cancer which has since been ruled out as the growths were found to be benign.
Makokou joined the Zoo, after Max, the famous crime-busting gorilla, died in 2004 of natural causes. In 1997 Max had made international headlines after he had rushed to defend his partner, Lisa, when a burglar jumped into the gorilla enclosure. Max was shot in the jaw and arm, and was taken to the Milpark Hospital, where the bullet only in his jaw was removed.
Makokou who is part of the international, Zoological Information Management Stud Book (ZIMS), was born at the Stuttgart Zoo in 1985. To manage genetic diversity of gorilla populations, he arrived at the Joburg Zoo at age 19, in 2004.
The Mayoral Committee Member for Community Development, Margaret Arnolds was on hand during the surgery, and expressed concern for his health and recovery. She said: “This ground-breaking surgery is a learning and teaching experience for the veterinarian fraternity across South Africa. I want to commend the medics and veterinarians from the various institutions and Makokou’s curator and keepers who anxiously waited on the sidelines throughout the procedure. ”
World renowned narrator and award-winning producer of BBC Natural History, Sir David Attenborough, affirmed the importance of gorillas as an indicator species for human survival when he stated that, “There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than any other animal I know. Their sight, their hearing, their sense of smell are so similar to ours that they see the world in much the same way we do.”
Makokou will continue to be closely monitored and if his recovery continues as planned, residents in Joburg and his fans across the globe can expect a virtual birthday party for the 35-year young primate, on 9 July 2020.
ENDS.
Issued on behalf of
Councillor Margaret Arnolds
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development
City of Joburg
For media enquiries:
Jenny Moodley
GM: Stakeholder and Media Relations
Tel: 082 8030 748
Email: jmoodley@jhbcityparks.com
Website: www.jhbcityparks.com
-
Media Statement
Monday, 8 June 2020
No embargo
City parks, nature reserves and the Joburg Zoo remain closed in Level 3
Joburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) appeals to residents to comply with the emergency mitigation measures adopted in Level 3 against Covid-19 which came into effect on 1 June 2020.
The Joburg Zoo, nature reserves, all public parks and corridors along water bodies in the city remain temporarily closed. This includes facilities that are unfenced or that do not have signposts alerting residents to the closure. All JCPZs facilities may not be accessed for gatherings or for individual exercising or for the installation of tombstones in cemeteries. Residents are however allowed to jog or walk in their respective neighbourhoods between 6am and 6pm. These protocols are in place to protect the wellbeing of residents and safeguard families.
Emergency and critical services including general operations at the Joburg Zoo; funerals in cemeteries and the crematoriums; and the removal of uprooted trees and fallen branches, have continued uninterrupted. A core team, that are compliant with safety protocols have also been focusing on horticultural services to ensure that flagship parks, key developed parks and main arterial entrances are cut and cleaned. Zoo staff remain committed to the welfare of animals in their care and a 24-hour team is on standby as well, to swiftly remove fallen trees obstructing main arterials.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Joburg (CoJ), Councillor Margaret Arnolds appealed to avid-park users to comply with the temporary lockdown measures in Level 3 as Joburg remains a hotspot due to the surge in the number of Covid-19 infections.
Arnolds stated that, “The concern for the city is the increased trajectory of infections in developed suburbs and the potential of a resurgence in both formal and informal areas. Unfortunately some residents are refusing to comply with safety protocols and are compromising the health of others by gathering in public spaces or visiting parks and nature reserves. The implications of an increase in the number of infections will place undue pressure on the city’s health services and its cemeteries and crematoria,” she added.
Arnolds appealed to residents to comply by staying at home where possible; keeping spaces clean; adopting safe distancing; wearing a mask and washing our hands regularly.
Residents requiring a City Parks or Zoo service may contact the entity on JCPZs digital platforms on jhbcityparks.com or on Twitter on @JoburgParksZoo or on Facebook on JoburgParks or JoburgZoo.
ENDS
Issued by the Member of Community Development in the City of Joburg
Councillor Margaret Arnolds
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Jenny Moodley
Spokesperson: Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
Tel: 082 8030 748 or on 082 906 1515
Email: jmoodley@jhbcityparks.com
Website: www.jhbcityparks.com
Twitter: JoburgParksZoo/ Facebook: JoburgParks
-
Media Statement
Thursday, 4 June 2020
Hope in a time of despair…
Makokou, the 35year-old male gorilla from the Joburg Zoo, is set to fly to Onderstepoort in Pretoria for a pre-op CT scan, on Saturday, 6 June at 8am
In May 2020 a decision was taken to immobilise the Joburg Zoo’s male Western Lowland Gorilla Makokou, who is 35 years-old, for a complete health examination. He has previously been suffering from a chronic nasal discharge which had not been responding positively to routine medical treatments.
A team of specialists were consulted to assist with further expertise and specialised equipment, to help in diagnosing the ailment. They included:
- Prof Adrian Tordiffe (Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital- OVAH)
- Prof Gerhard Steenkamp (VETDENT SA)
- Prof Johannes Schoeman (Onderstepoort- OVAH)
- Dr Justin Grace (Onderstepoort- OVAH)
- Dr Jose' Carlos Almansa Ruiz (VETDENT SA)
- Dr Keri-lee Dobbie (Johannesburg Animal Eye Hospital)
- Dr Kirsten Dinham (IMV Imaging SA)
- Mr Tim Perks (IMV Imaging SA)
This team together with the Veterinary Services and Animal Collection team at Joburg Zoo conducted the health examination on Makokou, after considerable planning. The initial examination consisted of a detailed physical exam, extensive blood work, radiography, electrocardiogram, cardiac ultrasound, ophthalmic exam, dental exam, rhinoscopy, blood pressure analysis and various other sample collections.
During this procedure it was discovered that Makokou had a nasal growth which had been causing his symptoms. A biopsy of this was taken and sent for histopathology. The results revealed that he has chronic Rhinitis with inflammatory polyps developing in his nasal passages.
This brings us to our plan for Saturday. The only way to accurately see the extent of these lesions affecting Makokou is to perform a diagnostic CT (Computed-tomography) scan. Unfortunately due to his size (around 210kg) the only machine available to us that is large enough to provide a proper scan him and take his weight, is located at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH)
Prof Gerhard Steenkamp has kindly arranged for this procedure to be done at the OVAH, he has also arranged for a non-vet ENT surgeon who will be there to assess the scans and further evaluate Makokou’s ailment. Great apes are our closest living relatives and a qualified surgeon is required to remove his nasal polyps. This surgery will likely be done at a later date once the CT scan has been completed and fully assessed. Prof Steenkamp has also generously secured the services of pilot who was prepared to fly Makokou via a helicopter to OVAH for the scan. Mr Mike Barnes CEO from MCC Aviation will pilot the helicopter and together with Mr Mike Goodwin his GM, they have been kind enough to undertake this procedure pro-bono.
At 8am on 6 June 2020 we will be immobilizing Makokou for transportation to OVAH for a diagnostic CT scan.
Our veterinary team will meet at the zoo at 7:00 to prepare for the procedure. Makokou will receive an oral sedative at 8am and be closed in his night-room. The helicopter will land at 9:00 in the designated area, to transport Makokou. Dr Justine Grace and Dr Kresen Pillay from the Joburg Zoo will accompany Makokou on the helicopter. At OVAH he will have the CT scan performed and once this is complete he will be returned to Joburg Zoo via the helicopter.
Indepth preparations have gone on behind the scenes to ensure that all team members strictly abide by the extensive protocol measures in place. The wellbeing and care of Makokou who will celebrate his 35th birthday on 9 July, remains of paramount importance for all staff at the Joburg Zoo.
Issued on behalf of
Mr Lombard Shirindzi
Executive Manager of the Joburg Zoo
-
A City of Johannesburg Media Advisory
Thursday, 5 June 2020
Release: Immediate
The time for nature is now, let us save our biodiversity.
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) the entity responsible for designated open spaces, public parks, street trees, nature reserves and the Johannesburg Zoo, is calling on all citizens of Joburg to do their part as the world marks World Environment Day (WED) on Friday, 5 June 2020.
The MMC for Community Development in the City of Joburg, Cllr Margaret Arnolds together with Cllr Mpho Moerane, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services in the City of Joburg, will lead a symbolic tree planting ceremony in Riverlea on Jukskei Drive and Gamka Street in Region B, from 11h00 – 12h00. Approximately 20 trees will be planted during the month of June with continued clean-ups, litter picking and the removal of unsightly illegal dumping in the city and clearing of litter in the nature reserves in Cosmo City.
This year’s theme” Biodiversity, time for nature“, is a desperate call on nations to act now to save our already dwindling biodiversity. WED aims to inspire more people than ever before to take action in preventing the growing strain on the environment and its ecosystems. All species play a critical role in keeping a natural balance and for all to live in harmony with one another.
World Environment Day gives us all an opportunity to create awareness and commit ourselves to consciously care for the environment in our daily lives.
The City of Joburg adheres to the strict Covid 19 regulations, health and safety measures of its employees and communities, while providing the residents of Joburg with timeous service delivery.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of
Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for
Community Development
City of Johannesburg
Media Enquiries
Noeleen Mattera
Stakeholder, PR & Media Relations
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
T: 011 712 6617 / 011 712 6600
E: nmattera@jhbcityparks.com
Follow us on Twitter @JoburgParksZoo or on Facebook
