A devoted admirer of Mitchell Park, who wished to remain anonymous, has expressed deep sorrow over the ongoing deterioration of what was once a beloved Durban landmark.
Recalling fond childhood memories, he remembers a vibrant park teeming with lush greenery, exotic animals, and a bustling tea garden. However, his recent visit painted a starkly different picture—broken pathways, abandoned enclosures, and a dilapidated children’s playground.
“The place has become a shadow of its former self,” he lamented, adding that he now fears for the park’s future and the well-being of the remaining animals left behind in neglect.
“Mitchell Park was a fantastic place, with towering trees, rolling lawns, and enclosures filled with exotic birds and animals—including an elephant and a crocodile that hardly seemed to move. But now, the once-beautiful grounds are scarred by broken pathways, a shuttered tea garden, and enclosures that appear abandoned. The animal section looks like the Baghdad Zoo after the US invasion of Iraq,” he said, mourning the loss of its former splendour.
According to him, only a few animals remain: a handful of forlorn rabbits, a moth-eaten alpaca, and tortoises that seem to have endured the neglect. The children’s playground, once alive with laughter, is now roped off, leaving only echoes of its past. “What seemed like an entire school of small children was milling around, inexplicably screaming as if they had seen something terrifying,” he described.
With the entrance fee of just R16 seemingly not being used for maintenance, he questioned the park’s sustainability. The once-prized Mitchell Park now stands as a painful symbol of neglect and missed opportunities.
He suggested that it may be time to shut down the so-called zoo and relocate the remaining animals to a sanctuary where they can receive proper care. In his words, “The future of Durban lies north of the Umgeni, where private money funds private initiatives. The city’s public spaces have become casualties of a mismanaged past.”
Mitchell Park’s decline is a tragedy, leaving many to wonder what could have been done to preserve it. “We could have at least tried.”
Commenting on her blog about the park’s decay, Wendy Welsh, a former resident of Lambert Road, shared her distress: “I lived in Lambert Road as a child and was always taken to ‘The Park’ with my twin brother, Peter. I am deeply saddened and shocked by what it has become. And please—can’t somebody rescue the poor birds and animals still there? Please save them. It is disgusting and shocking that living creatures are being tortured and imprisoned.”
Jill Corfield added: “My heart goes out to these poor animals and birds who have no voice. I hope they are being fed and watered daily. The SPCA needs to step in.”
Lisa Boyd echoed these concerns: “Appalling! My heart breaks for the animals and birds still captive there. Someone, please rescue them from this devastated wasteland.”
Ward 27 councillor Ernest Smith attributed the decline of Mitchell Park and nearby Jameson Park to the city’s longstanding failure to permanently appoint district managers. He stated that despite repeated requests from both himself and the Parks and Recreation Committee (PRC), these critical appointments had only recently been made, leaving the newly assigned managers to deal with years of accumulated neglect.
“While I share residents’ concerns about the state of the parks and zoo, accountability must be placed where it belongs—on senior management, responsible for appointing district managers, horticulturists, and other essential staff,” said Smith.
He acknowledged that the newly appointed district management had been more responsive to issues raised but emphasised that the district needs more resources to meet its obligations to the community. “Ultimately, it is senior management’s responsibility to approve these requests, which I know has been done,” he added.
Another pressing concern, he said, was that the zoo still lacks a permanent manager, a position that has been overdue for years. Additionally, critical resources from the PRC are needed to maintain enclosures and facilities.
“As for the health of the animals, the SPCA has conducted assessments, but sometimes residents don’t seek clarity from officials when they visit the zoo. Animals naturally moult, shed skins, and display other behaviours that can be misinterpreted. For instance, in 2023/2024, one of the alpacas was reported as dead when it was simply lying down,” he noted.
He concluded: “There is definitely room for vast improvement in both the parks and the zoo. With the city’s attention and investment, they can once again become top-tier facilities. However, the municipality must recognise its duty to allocate adequate resources—both for the community’s benefit and for the welfare of the animals in its care.”
EThekwini Municipality was contacted for comment regarding the maintenance of its parks and the welfare of the animals in the zoo. However, no response was received by the time of publication.
