Panjo’s home in jeopardy
Jugomaro Predator Park, home to Panjo the tiger, his 11 striped brothers and sisters, five lions, twelve wolves, three lynxes and a leopard; is on the verge of closing after Absa applied for a liquidation order against the embattled sanctuary.
According to the owners of the park, they’ve had a number of financial difficulties, which has led to the application by Absa.
“Our cats are family,” a distraught Justin Fernandes told Daller, “it would be detrimental if they lost the safe haven we’ve created for them over the past couple of years,” he added.
Panjo made headlines in 2010, when he escaped from the cargo van he was traveling in between Groblersdal and Heidelberg.
His escape led to global fame after the entire country was placed on high alert.
People pulled together and demanded that Panjo be darted rather than shot, and he was found a few days later close to Verena, and reunited with his minders.
After Panjo was found, tourists flocked to Jugomaro which was at that stage merely classified as game farm.
The farm has since evolved from a private game farm, to a sanctuary for a wide range of animals in distress.
“The costs involved in caring for the animals as well as for erecting new encampments, is astronomically high,” Justin says, adding that no animal is ever turned away from Jugomaro.
Expenses have been cut to the bone, resulting in the Fernandes family overseeing the entire park, including its restaurant.
“We spend R50 000 each month to feed the cats,” Justin tallies the costs.
Last year, a number of thefts also led to Jugomaro losing a substantial amount in replacing lost transformers and copper cables.
An emergency fund has now been established to help save the park and its animals.
Apart from the fund, Jugomaro has approached cattle and game farmers to supply meat, to keep the animals fed and healthy.
The deadline for Jugomaro is fast running out, and any contributions are welcome.
An amount of R250 000 has already been collected but much more is needed to sustain the sanctuary and avoid liquidation.
In an effort to help, three youngsters, Dominique da Silva (10), and Daniela (11) and Catia (15) Infante, started their own project dubbed “Tiger Awareness” to do their bit.
The project is centered around the sales of Loomband bracelets, of which the profits are donated to Jugomaro.
For more information on how to get involved, contact Justin at 082 558 0703.
