The Story of the Munda Wanga Zoo

The bears were placed as cubs into a sunken circular concrete pit, twelve metres by twelve metres with a surrounding wall of 2,5 metres high. In 1978 Ralph Sander passed away and the zoo/gardens became the sole property of the Zambian Government. Until now, the zoo and its animals have been left to practically survive on their own with minor input from local caretakers, who remained loyal to the zoo and the animals. The Government recently approached a gentlemen named Bill Thomas, who is a successful owner of a nearby reptile farm. They requested that he take over the zoo and improve its conditions. In December of 1998, Bill Thomas entered the zoo and was shocked by the poor condition of the animals. The lions and tigers were very under nourished, as were the bears, monkeys and camel who were also suffering mentally from their years of confinement.

The monkeys were enclosed in the same concrete houses adjacent to the lions and tigers, in full view of one another. Separated only by bars, creating a traumatic situation for the monkeys. It is unknown how many years this type of confinement existed!
Bill Thomas took immediate steps in releasing the monkeys into the surrounding environment of the Zoo. They are now roaming free and appear to remain close to the Zoo, due to food being made available for them. Bill was unable to save the camel despite attempts on his behalf and it died shortly after his arrival.
Bill released the tigers and lions into large grass and tree enclosures surrounded by high see- through fences. The two tigers are Bengal Tigers, both male and are father and son. They took a great deal of coaxing to enter their new enclosures after being confined for so many years. The one tiger now paces repeatedly up and down the one enclosure. This appears to be as a result of boredom according to experts who have visited the zoo since.
The lions, male and female are brother and sister. They have produced two male offspring cubs who are now approximately 2 years old. According to Bill, there does not appear to be any complications as a result to this interbreeding. However, he has subsequently been given another female lion, from another African zoo and has had to separate the brother and sister. At present, the female remains with her two male cubs and a new female has been placed with the existing adult male.
The bears are brother and sister and are American black bears. On discovering the bears, Bill found them to be in an extremely under nourished condition. They had been fed on maize meal alone, for an indefinite amount of time. He introduced fish into the maize meal in order to coax them into eating a small amount of protein. Presently they have now taken to chicken, as well as vegetables and their condition has improved tremendously since December.
However, they remain in a sunken concrete pit, with a surrounding wall of 2.5 metres high which they are unable to see over. Hence, they have seen only the sky for approximately seventeen years. The bear pit is surrounded by an internal moat as well as a pool, which contained stagnant water. Bill has cleaned the moat and the pool and filled them with fresh water, however the bears have not taken to the pool at all, possibly due to their mental condition.
The pit also contains a small brick hut, open at two sides, where the bears sleep occasionally at night. There is a large tree in the middle of the pit, which gives them ample shade during the day.

At first, it was presumed that the female was pregnant. However, after local vets were called in and her abdomen was scanned, it was established that she has a liver problem, possibly due to her previous poor diet. She is now being treated for this. According to one of the workers at the zoo, the female had a cub three years ago, which was killed by the male for unknown reasons. Bill has been able to obtain an unlimited supply of vegetables from surrounding vegetable export farms, who discard a large quantity of reject vegetables daily. He is able to collect by the bakkie load, free of cost. There are a few chicken farms in the surrounding area who supply fresh dead chickens to Bill at a nominal cost. Cattle carcasses can be purchased from local slaughterhouses ,also at a moderate cost. In 1995, Mike Pugh of The World Society for the Protection of Animals visited the zoo. At the time there were a number of other zoos in Africa holding animals in deplorable conditions, far worst than that which he had seen at the Munda Wanga Zoo. He therefore has to prioritize WSPA support and provide where it is most needed. Bill has since employed two independent zoologists, Lee & Lasha from the U.K. to take care of all the animals. Bill Thomas runs a snake and crocodile farm within the nearby vacinity to the zoo. Approximately 500 visitors pay an entrance fee of R2,50 each to visit his crocodile farm each weekend. The sale of crocodile skins and meat contribute to a major part of the farms income. Bill is primarily a reptile specialist, but has since gained valuable knowledge on mammals.He commented that personal monthly income for himself is negligible at this point in time.
Bill's dream is to open the Munda Wanga Zoo, as both a recreational and educational zoo for the local children. The zoo itself is situated on a main road with ongoing traffic. He estimates that he would he able to charge a minimum entrance fee per head which would help to sustain the animals. However, he stated that he would require greater financial input by way of foreign donations, in order to improve the zoo and animal enclosures overall.
First prize, according to Bill, would have been to relocate the bears and the tigers to their own natural habitat and tried to find alternative homes for them through "Zoo Check' in the United States. To date "Zoo Check" have been unable to find a sanctuary for them in the U.S.A.

A representative from the "Smithsonian Zoo" in Washington named Robin Vasa has been to investigate the animals, in August 1998. She is the principle zoo architect for the Smithsonian. She advised Bill on many matters pertaining to animals in captivity.
An overall plan of the new proposed zoo and recreational areas, encompassing botanical gardens has been drawn up by the Smithsonian. It proposed that approximately one hectre of land would be put aside for the two bears, should an alternative home not be found. This has since been increased to 3 hectres. The estimated costs of the first phase is $650 000,00, with a total of 1 Million dollars estimated for the entire project. Bill is confident that he will be able to raise the funds required for the first phase through foreign donations and is in the process of setting up a trust made up of local prominent business persons. Bill Thomas will be paid a management fee thereafter by the Trust.At present, the zoo is being leased from the Zambian Government for a period of 25 years and thereafter will revert back to their ownership, according to Zambian Laws.

The above report is a documentation of a meeting held between Sam Esra of 'The Bear Group of S.A." and Bill Thomas of the 'Munda Wanga Zoo'in June 1999. Its contents, statements and views do not reflect those of the 'World Society for the Protection of Animals' nor the 'International Fund for Animal Welfare' in any way whatsoever.

Progress Report - November 1999

Lee Stuart says:

The plight of the American Black bears at Munga Wanga Zoo has been eagerly followed and financially supported by The Bear Group S.A. With around USD400,00 having already been donated and a further R6000,00 support promised, the group can be proud that their support has seen our two cuddly critters through their difficult times. Their lives are now set to enter a new stage with the financial support of the World Society of the Protection of Animals(WSPA). WSPA have offered USD10,000 to Munda Wanga to build our friends a new enclosure. A large expansive,open moated (called "haha") enclosure with all of todays new and innovative enrichment ideas, to give them the lives they surely deserve. natural fully landscaped area, 2 acres in size containing numerous trees, water features and dens in which our bears can freely roam.
In the last 6 months, with your support, we have managed to improve their diet and give them toys which has improved both their mental and physical health.With WSPA's help we have our light at the end of the tunnel.We can now get them out of the pit and provide them with everything they will ever need. Long live our bears!

Progress Report - May 2000