In the
News...
September 2007
The World Conservation
This month's stories:
Tonga
the Hippo Enjoying
New Life in South Africa
A little more than a month after Tonga the hippo arrived in South Africa after being saved from a French circus, the 11-year-old is at home in his new surroundings.
Tonga lounges about at the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary in Letsitele, Limpopo, as though he has been living in Africa all his life.
The two-ton hippo had to travel halfway round the world to escape the misery of being a side show in a circus where he and other animals were severely neglected.
Tonga the hippo (Photo Public Domain)
Tonga, together with five lions, a tiger and five snakes, were saved from Zavata Circus after the French Animal Aid Foundation won a court battle to have them removed.
It took several months,
lots of red tape and a bumpy ride before Tonga finally settled in
SA.
In January this year, the
Court of Annecy ordered the confiscation of the animals because they
were severely neglected.
The circus also failed to
provide proper veterinary care to the animals, which had led to dental
problems.
The Foundation Assistance aux Animaux in Paris sent a request to SanWild Wildlife, a rehabilitation and emergency rescue centre, to assist.
Tonga was temporarily placed in an electrified enclosure, but has since been released and was enjoying his freedom.
Louise Joubert, a spokesperson for SanWild, said Tonga was doing extremely well.
"He has been
released and is now living wild and free. He is taking a lot of time
exploring his new environment," she said.
Joubert said he was free to roam the 6 000ha and meet other wild animals." He has already been in contact with herds of elephant and rhino."
For more info, please see our August 07 edition
Source: Independent
Online of South Africa 7 Oct 07
8/10/07
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