-
Zion Wildlife Gardens zookeeper Dalu Mncube - Source: ONE News -
Related
Dalu Mncube is almost home. The slain game keeper's body was loaded into an aircraft hold in the cold pre-dawn hours of Monday morning. In accordance with Dalu's wish, his final resting place will be homeland Africa.
The generosity of Northland businessman, Mark Cromie, ensured the wish came true. Cromie stumped up the shortfall after a public appeal to raise $12,000 fell well short.
It was a gesture that raised flagging spirits at Zion Wildlife Gardens. The park was Dalu's workplace, the scene of his fatal mauling and final farewell.
Managing Director, Patricia Busch, said Zion staff had all been "praying for a miracle and we got it".
In a voice heavy with sadness, Patricia explained how Dalu had been the "heart of the park", how much he'd loved the animals and put in more effort than anyone else there.
"He was my right arm. I loved him to bits & He's irreplaceable."
But in order to keep Dalu's treasured legacy alive, another specialist keeper must be found and soon. A new park operator is about to be announced and staff have been flat out ensuring MAF requirements are met so the park can be re-opened. Time is of the essence for a business whose very existence is controversial and currently the centre of a legal dispute between Patricia and her son, Craig Busch, aka The Lionman.
Cromie, for one, is one keen to see the park get on top of its troubles. He believes it's been a valuable Northland tourism venture, something not understood by the community.
He calls the park "one of the great wonders of Northland". And says, in addition to acknowledging Dalu's contribution, his donation was "a gesture not only for the park but for Whangarei and Northland".
Cromie has certainly experienced wider goodwill towards the park during his efforts to help get Dalu's body to Africa. An office worker at Auckland Hospital flagged a $50 paperwork fee, saying she wanted to pay it herself. The undertaker who prepared the body for travel didn't charge for transport from his Auckland funeral home to the airport.
With new management in place at Zion, Cromie sees the opportunity to build on the park's tourist potential and suggests the hugely popular Lionman television series be resumed in some way, if at all possible. He'd also like the regional council to come to the party and tar seal the last few kilometres of road that lead to the park to make the drive easier for tourists. Those are his "big picture" ideas.
For now though park staff are taking little steps.
They're focused on getting the park reopened, getting over the loss of a dear friend and colleague, getting on with looking after the animals.
It's easy to understand why they want to do their very best by Dalu. Although his ultimate wish was to be with his African family, his legacy lives on here - with his New Zealand partner and young child who remain and the people he worked with at the park he loved.
