This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8359219.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Poor to eat Robben Island rabbits | Poor to eat Robben Island rabbits |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The rabbits which have overrun the Robben Island former jail and tourist attraction are to be used to feed South Africa's poor, the site's manager says. | The rabbits which have overrun the Robben Island former jail and tourist attraction are to be used to feed South Africa's poor, the site's manager says. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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 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 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. | 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. |