The News

Home

News

The News

Workers day - 23 May 2009

Tuesday, 26 May 2009 07:32 |

Written by Laurinda Steyn |

FOTZ members worked in the Lemur enclosure. They planted stumps, hanged a ladder and wooden poles for the Lemurs. All of this was done to enrich the environment for the Lemurs. Environmental enrichment is a very important aspect in the Zoo. It prevents stereotypical behaviour of the animals and encourages natural behaviour.

Holes were also bored into some of the stumps to enable Zoo personnel to place food inside and some of the children made pipe tubes with holes. These tubes are filled with food and the animal has to turn and shake it to get the food out. This keeps the animal busy and together with the holes in the stumps develops natural foraging skills.

After a days hard work it was a pleasure to see the Lemurs exploring there new 'toys'. This makes all of the effort the worthwhile and is very fulfilling.

On another workers day FOTZ will plant shrubs and grass in the Lemur environment to further create a natural habitat for the Lemurs. This will also be done to enrich the animal’s environment, but also to educate visitors.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 24 February 2010 12:53)

Private Snooze - 2 May 2009

Wednesday, 06 May 2009 07:25 |

Written by Laurinda Steyn |

A group of 56 from Virginia, 'Goudveld Christen Uitreiking", visited the Bloemfontein Zoo for a Private Zoo Snooze. A lot of the kids in the group have never been outside Virginia and this outing was a great experience for them. They all helped to pitch their tents, before joining Mr. Lucas Tsoku for a night tour. Thys Janse van Rensburg, their group leader, prepared a biltong 'potjie' for all. It was DELICIOUS!!



		Photos: Erica Pretorius

Last Updated (Friday, 08 May 2009 07:54)

Charlie's Angel

Tuesday, 05 May 2009 14:40 |

Written by Laurinda Steyn |

Fire Jimlongwe with Charlie in the background, eating an orange.

Fire Jimlongwe is a 27 year old Xhosa. He can speak six languages fluently, namely Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Tswana, English and Afrikaans. He started working as Charlie’s Angel on 17 April 2009 and does this everyday from 9:00 till 16:00 and every second weekend. He was appointed for three months. He has a lovely personality and communicates easily in both English and Afrikaans (I cannot speak the other languages).

He has a N4 diploma in Human Resource Management. He previously owned his own truck, which he used for deliveries. He also owned a food kiosk at the University. Unfortunately none of these businesses were lucrative and he had to look for something else.

He enjoys looking after Charlie and Judy and explained that the zoo personnel has change the placement of their food for the morning meal. He said that he enjoy the people and explains why the visitors should not feed or give cigarettes to Charlie and Judy.

Last Updated (Tuesday, 05 May 2009 14:42)

OFM Projek: "Charlie's Angel"

Monday, 04 May 2009 10:24 |

Written by Laurinda Steyn |

Oorspronklike artikel deur Rian van Heerden

Die OFM Mambo Jumbo span het besluit om die Bloemfontein Zoo te ondersteun in hulle pogings om Charlie die Chimp so ver te kry om op te hou rook.

Op Donderdag, 2 April 2009, is "Charlie’s Angel" gelaunch op die show. Die idee is dat iemand aangestel sal word om voor Charlie se hok te staan wat sal keer dat besoekers sigarette of sweets vir Charlie gooi. Die aangestelde "gaurdian angel" sal letterlik verseker dat Charlie hanteer word soos hy verdien.

Dankie aan al die luisteraars wat SMSé gestuur het en donasies gemaak het om hulle support vir hierdie projek te wys. 3946 boodskappe is ontvang tydens die Mumbo Jumbo Show en Shoprite Checkers het ook ingestem om hammocks vir Charlie te skenk sodat hy nie meer op die sement vloer hoef te slaap nie.

Altesame R3723,00 is ingesamel op die SMS-lyn en OFM sal die bedrag match rand vir rand. Dit saam met al die telefoniese donasies het die eind-bedrag op R11 080,00 gebring en is aan Friends of the Zoo geskenk, sodat hulle "Charlie's Angel" kan aanstel.

Last Updated (Monday, 04 May 2009 10:52)

Zoo Snooze 25 April 2009

Tuesday, 28 April 2009 07:22 |

Written by Laurinda Steyn |

Although there were not a lot of people attending the Zoo Snooze of 25 April 2009, the people who did thoroughly enjoyed it. Mr Daryl Barnes from Bloemfontein Zoo gave a talk on the treatment of Snake Bites. He started his talk with an introduction on the evolution of the snake head and fangs, explaining how the different teeth and fangs function. He explained the different types of poison and what actions to take when bitten by a snake or when helping somebody bitten by a snake. Everybody enjoyed the talk and there was a lot of interaction from the crowd. After his talk Mr. Lawrence Letshokgohla, the new Educational Officer at Bloemfontein Zoo, showed the people a Burmese Python and allowed the people to touch it. An exchange student from Germany, Susanne Junghans, was even brave enough to drape the python around her neck. People visited till late around the camp fire and some kids melted (“burned”) marshmallows over the fire for the fun. It was a very enjoyable Zoo Snooze.

Daryl giving a talk on treatment of snake bites		Everybody found the talk about Snakes interresting

Burmese Python		Lawrence and Susanne

Last Updated (Monday, 04 May 2009 07:57)