The Snare Aware team recently removed 10 snares from the Karridene area. A small team of four swept through the entire area early in the morning, removing new snares that had been set after their last sweep of the area.
“Despite the active poaching going on, there are still good signs of wildlife in the area and the flora is just as diverse. Sadly, large scale dumping is occurring here and we even came across bush pig droppings with a plastic packet inside the droppings, clearly showing the impact this illegal dumping is having on our wildlife.
Signs of large scale harvesting of Strelitzia nicolai seed was also evident,” said a Snare Aware member, whose identity cannot be disclosed due to safety reasons.
While poaching provides a risk to wildlife, the biggest risk of all is habitat loss. Wildlife cannot survive without their habitat.
“Sadly, this sensitive area that contains wetland, coastal forest and coastal grassland habitats is at risk of being lost to the proposed development of a 720-unit housing complex. Luckily, this development is subject to an environmental impact assessment process and we recommend submitting your comments to the environmental consultants, should you have any,” said the member.
Wild habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate, and with the threat of global climate change and mass extinction, it is critical for sensitive habitats like these to be conserved.
To object or comment, go to IDM Consultants webpage, and refer to the ‘Msimbazi development’ on their home page.
