On trial for kidnapping penguins

(Baonghean.vn) – On September 30, South African police said that Adrian Donian and Emile du Plessis, two students aged 22 and 24, were charged in court with kidnapping Buddy, a penguin, at a water park.in Port Elizabeth.

The Cape of Good Hope penguins are found only in southern Africa and are classified as endangered and in need of protection.

Previously, on September 29, these two young men had to appear in court in Port Elizabeth for theft as well as violating marine animal protection laws.

Port Elizabeth police spokeswoman Priscilla Naidu said the case was adjourned for further investigation and the two men were later released. However, both Adrian Donian and Emile du Plessis are due to appear in court again on November 3.

It is known that on the night of September 20 to the morning of September 21, Buddy, a 3-year-old penguin at the Cape of Good Hope, was kidnapped by Donian and Plessis.

The two men wrapped Buddy in a shirt and drove him to a beach near Port Elizabeth.

The two men later confessed to their wrongdoing, park director Dylan Bailey told AFP. Donian and Plessis explained that they had done so to denounce the practice of keeping animals in captivity.

To this day, Buddy has not been found. Many fear that Buddy may not survive in the wild, as most penguins raised in captivity do not know how to hunt or defend themselves against predators in the wild.

Because of the kidnapping, Buddy was separated from his mother. Volunteers continue to actively search for Buddy in the faint hope that he is still alive.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cape penguins like Buddy are only found in southern Africa and are classified as endangered in need of protection./.

Chu Thanh

(According to 20Minutes)