/ 14 January 1999

BABY ELEPHANTS LEAVE SA

SEVEN of the young Tuli elephants belonging to Riccardo Ghiazza’s African Game Services were shipped out of South Africa on Wednesday night, bound for zoos in Germany and Switzerland. National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals spokesperson Christine Kuch said the elephants were moved from Ghiazza’s Brits premises on Wednesday morning. She said the elephants travelled aboard a chartered Ukrainian aircraft to Leipzig in Germany. In an emotional court challenge last year, the NSPCA was awarded custody of 23 of the 30 elephants in Ghiazza’s care after allegations he was abusing them. The court held that seven of the beasts could be exported. However, the Pretoria High Court subsequently delayed the relocation of the 23 elephants pending the outcome of a review of magistrate’s decision, for which a date has yet to be set.