MPUMALANGA. – Tswale, die olifant, is na die uitreiking van ‘n hofbevel deur die Mbombela-hooggeregshof van sy voormalige tuiste Lowhills Safari-plaas, in privaat eienaarskap, na ‘n plek van veiligheid verskuif. Hy is tans in kwarantyn in ‘n veeartsfasiliteit.
Simphiwe Shungube van Mpumalanga se toerisme-en-parkagentskap sê in ‘n verklaring Tswale is in die teenwoordigheid van sy oppasser, Amos Jivendava, verskuif. WeWild Africa, Aspinall Foundation en Pro Vet Wildlife Services, het gehelp om die verskuiwing moontlik te maak en Tswale gemaklik te hou. Na sy verblyf in die die veeartsfasiliteit sal Tswale na ‘n geïdentifiseerde natuurreservaat geneem word, waar hy saam met ‘n trop olifante sal woon. Tswale sal met behulp van Jivendava, wat sedert 2004 sy oppasser is, ‘n rewilding proses deurgaan om te leer om as ‘n wilde dier saam met ander olifante te leef.
Tswale Educational Elephant Interactions het intussen die volgende op hulle webtuiste geplaas en ‘n petisie begin om Tswale die olifant terug te bring:
#TSWALE TAKEN! Today has been a heart breaking day, following more than 2 weeks of trauma for Sonell. Today, our beloved #Tswale was illegally removed from his home – LowHills.
As we write this, he is on a truck – being taken to an unknown destination – alone and scared. The trauma is unspeakable – the gentle giant who has stolen all our hearts – torn from his home and his humans – Amos and Sonell. The horrific truth is that Tswale and Sonell have both been wrongly incarcerated, and it has left most of us incapable of trusting in the authorities we have always been conditioned to trust. How can this happen? We don’t have a simple answer. What can we do? We have an answer for that – be their voice! Tswale is not just a Schedule 1 Specifically Protected wild animal- he is our family and each of us needs to unite hands and voices around the world and speak for our beloved Tswale to ensure that he is brought back home safely!
He is counting on us and there is not a moment to loose! Please sign this petition now and share it across the world until the authorities DO THE RIGHT THING for our Tswale! https://www.change.org/BringTSWALEHomeSafely
