September 22, 2005
By Tshepiso Seopa
THE honey badgers at the Johannesburg Zoo have new parents - Jack and Jill have been adopted by Indiatech Professional Training, a life skills and computer training company based in Alberton.
The zoo's Adopt An Animal programme is aimed at raising funds, and the money generated is used to buy animal food and medicine and to maintain the animal enclosures.
Corporations, schools and individuals can adopt animals, and the adoption of the honey badger pair cost R5 000.
The honey badger, known for its persistence and resilience, is the animal used as the zoo's logo.
At a low-key ceremony on Tuesday, September 20, Jenny Gray, the chief executive, thanked Vasan Reddy, who owns and runs Indiatech Professional Training, and presented her with an adoption certificate confirming the company as the badgers' adoptive parent.
Reddy, who was accompanied by her family, also received a photograph of the adopted animals, a personalised plaque at the enclosure, entrance vouchers and free parking.
Gray also urged Reddy to buy badger-friendly honey.
"Honey farmers hate honey badgers because they rip open their beehives," she explained. "There is actually a solution to the problem; the solution is to mount hives on poles out of reach of the animals.
"In that way, the conflict between man and animals is solved and animals will not die unnecessary deaths."
Honey badgers, or ratels, can weigh up to 12 kilograms. Their backs are grey and their stomachs are black, according to the zoo's educationist, Teresa Slacke.
In addition to honey, their diet included scorpions, spiders, insects, mice, lizards, frogs, snakes and fruit, she said. They lived in burrows or among rocks.
The ceremony was held in front of the honey badgers' enclosure. Unfortunately, the guests of honour did not attend. The nocturnal animals were fast asleep and could not pose for a picture with their new family.
Asked why she chose honey badgers to adopt, Reddy replied, "They are my husband's power animal, and that influenced my decision.
"We love animals and bring our kids to the zoo every second week."
Zoo animals can be adopted for as little as R250 a year. For more information, contact Teresa Slacke on 011 646 2000 ext 261.
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