Natal Zoological Gardens (Cato Ridge, KZN) Needs to be Shut Down!!!!!!

On the 22nd of January 2021, we decided to visit the Natal Zoological Gardens because we wanted to be out in nature and thought it's best we visit a place that supports the conservation of animals (or so we thought) being ardent supporters /activists of animal and environmental protection. Whilst walking through the park, we were horrified and absolutely shocked at how the animals are kept. The lions had ear infections that really needed treatment. Their discomfort was evident not to mention how small their enclosure was. It was mortifying to see a beautiful tiger locked in a tiny cage, alone. The saddest sight was the chimpanzees and orangutan. These creatures had no place to play as their enclosures had no trees and they sat lifeless in a corner desperately trying to remain out of the blazing sun from which they had no natural protection. Pea****s were caged along with other large birds that require space to walk around. every single cage and enclosure had a pungent smell of feaces as the cages / enclosures were obviously not cleaned regularly causing flies to be everywhere posing a huge nuisance to all the animals. Most heartbreakingly, the water troughs for every animal had stagnant, dirty water that the animals themselves didn't want to drink. Not to mention the lions and tigers had no water in their troughs despite the torrid summer heat. The lions, tigers and other large animals were malnourished and were in clear need of better medical attention as well as better diets. The park owners should be ashamed of themselves for what they are doing to innocent creatures. No animal should ever be caged !!

The state of the park was despicable but more despicable is the fact that the people who own this park are allowing animals to suffer this way. Please can more be done to expose the sad state of this park so that the animals there can be surrendered to better parks where they can have more natural habitats that are spacy and conducive to living a free and natural life. We are utterly disappointed and infuriated by the manner in which the beautiful and majestic creatures of this world are currently living at Natal Zoological Gardens in Cato Ridge, KZN.