News Flash
Poor to eat Robben Island rabbits
Location: South Africa. Posted on Fri, 13th Nov 2009.
South Africans are not used to eating rabbits
Nelson Mandela was held prisoner on the island off Cape Town for most of the 27 years he was in jail and it is now a museum and World Heritage Site.
But its vegetation has been ravaged by tens of thousands of wild rabbits.
A rabbit cull began last month and some 2,000 of them have been buried on the island so far.
But island acting chief executive Jatti Bredekamp says that will now change.
He said rabbits certified safe to eat would be "dressed and packaged for donation to charity," reports the Sapa news agency.
The rabbit meat is to be distributed among charities in Cape Town.
Sarah Scarth, a spokeswoman for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, SPCA, said the group's only concern was that the culling was carried out in a humane way.
"We have no problem with the animals being used for human consumption. If they can benefit the poor then that is something we are not against," she told the BBC.
Rabbits are commonly eaten in European countries but consuming the all-white meat would be new for many South Africans.
The island is said to have been populated by up to 25,000 rabbits and 500 deer, as well as feral cats.
The deer and cats are also being culled.
The island sits in the bay just seven kilometres from Cape Town's beaches and is visited by more than 1,800 tourists a day at peak times.
BBC
More General News
Call for Central African Republic rebel torture probe
Category: General. Location: Central African Republic. Posted on Mon, 1st Feb 2010.
Post a Comment
More StoriesView all News
Botswana recalls Zimbabwe envoys Danish troops storm ship captured by Somali pirates Zimbabwe civil servants go on strike over wages: Man blamed for Guinea massacre: Ready for trial Burundi peacekeepers on trial over Somalia mutiny World Court charges will harm Sudan peace process EU to send observers for Sudanese election Malawi president says AU chair will not make country rich Mandela celebrates 20 years of freedom U.S. Hails Track Record of Ghana Toyota to recall vehicles in South Africa Burundi opens trial of mutinous peacekeepers Obama condemns Uganda anti-gay bill as odious Nigeria cabinet split over sick President YarAdua Suzanne Tamim murderers appeal against death sentences Split emerges in Nigeria cabinet over Yar Adua Nigerian minister calls on ill president MSF condemns indiscriminate civilian attacks Rwanda genocide-row politician attacked Distracted South Africa face tough task in India Somali pirates hijack Libyan ship Children of Morocco Olympic champion not abducted Darfur crimes: Hague reverses Bashir genocide ruling Malawi arrests gay-poster man Sudan slams ICC decision on Beshir genocide charges Sudan calls in editors on hazardous waste reports Morocco says Norway must punish wayward diplomats Morocco, Polisario to resume informal Sahara talks Kenya tightens security on porous Somalia border Angolan president reshuffles govt after new charterLet your stories be heard. Sign up here and start posting it live on Afrika Speaks
Latest Video
Browse by Country
Recent Comments
Standchart Assists 18 SMEs To Hong Kong ExpoThe goal of Clomid remedial programme in treating infertility is to establish general ovulation rath...
Ghana government rewards Black Stars with $20,000 each This is amazing. And we always say we don't have money?...
Egypt 3-1 NigeriaThis is soo messed up for ma boys oh. Na waaaaa...
[Video] Kenyan witch-hunt targets eldersThis is so barberic. How can we expect God's blessings on us? Jesus Christ, Africa...when will you p...
[Video] Guinea military round up suspectsYo man this is straight up crazy. I can't believe this is going on and peeps are just sitting and wa...