Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Barbara Creecy visited the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) National Zoological Gardens of South Africa to review the facility’s contribution to biodiversity, research, conservation, and tourism.
‘SANBI’s work on research and scientific services which include genetics and DNA profiling, veterinary services, and the Biobank contributes significantly to biodiversity information, species conservation, biodiversity and health, and the wildlife economy, as well as combating wildlife crime,’ said Minister Barbara Creecy.
She added that plans for the zoo‘s future might include moving away from keeping animals and focusing on research only. ‘Across the world, you are seeing a movement where there is less appetite for viewing animals in captivity, and a greater appetite to see animals in national parks,’ she said. ‘We are wanting to be using this facility as the site of important scientific research and important work that backs up the battle we are waging to conserve animals in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution… and our battle against wildlife crime,’ she said according to Daily Maverick.
Creecy toured the facility’s Genetics Services Unit housing tools, technologies and guidelines that are applied in wildlife forensics and are used to expand DNA wildlife databases to ensure effective compliance, defensible and credible forensic testing to mitigate wildlife crime and contribute to the management of wildlife trade.
‘Through research, novel genetic tools are applied for the identification of hybrids in a variety of wildlife species with model thresholds for genetic testing,’ explained Professor Ramagwai Sebola, Chief Director of Foundational Biodiversity Science. ‘This is a service rendered to SANParks, provincial conservation authorities/agencies and to the wildlife industry to maintain the genetic integrity and to inform the genetic status of wildlife populations.’
The Minister also visited the animal hospital and veterinary unit which handles animal operations and post-mortems using high-technology equipment.
Creecy added that government wants to ‘reposition the zoo to be a place where you can keep specimens. And then you would have to look at possibilities for rehabilitation after the cases are over.’
Picture: Unsplash
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