By Staff Reporter
The construction for the new Kuruman Reptile Zoo by the John Taolo Gaetsewe Developmental Trust(JTGDT), in Seoding near Kuruman, is expected to be a tourist attraction and will be completed within the next eight months. JTGDT performed the Sod turning ceremony for the Reptile Galaxy Zoo in Kuruman on Thursday 03 November 2020.
JTGDT’s CEO, Tumelo Mpolokeng mentioned that several stakeholders were involved in the project, including the chieftaincy and the Northern Cape Department of Nature Conservation, to realise its completion.
The Zoo is a dream come true for Bokamoso ‘Buru’ Ntehelang, a well-known reptile capturer since 2003 from the John Taolo Gaetsewe district.
Mpolokeng expressed his satisfaction for eventually delivering on the promise he made to Ntehelang, to help him with his project. This follows the trust’s visit to Ntehelang in 2019, to inspect the place where he keeps his snakes and reptiles.
He is reported to have captured about 300 different snakes from 2019 to date. “The snakes that I currently have are exotic such as the Ball Python, Bradley Carpet Python, Corn snake, Leaking snake and the Yellow Anaconda,” he indicated.
Ntehelang was arrested several times for being in possession of poffaders and cobras, which are prohibited by law to be captured. This has not deterred him from pursuing his passion.
He admits to having been bitten by a snake before but received assistance on time.
Mpolokeng indicated that the Zoo will be a snake gallery and a place to enhance tourism within the John Taolo Gaetsewe district.
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