Issue 10 The Urban Wildlife Edition September - October 2018 - The Endangered ...
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Issue 10
The Urban Wildlife Edition
September - October 2018
Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 1
A WORD FROM THE CEO 2 Showcasing our supporters: Annual support from Assore
Limited 35
NOTICEBOARD
Meet the pack 35
• Events 3
• Emily Taylor
• Boaz Tsebe
FEATURES • Shumani Makwarela
• The birds of Delta Park – observing changes over more
than 40 years 4 Ways to give: Every swipe counts! 37
• Creating owl-friendly children 7
8 38
• Wildlife-friendly gardening – a return to nature Pups’ place
Showcasing our supporters: Celebrating an anniversary with e-SHOP 39
Signature Lux by Onomo 11
In closing: Mwitu’s missive 41
• There’s a bat in my kitchen, what should I do? 11
• Green spaces 15
• Shark mystery: Where have South Africa’s Great Whites
gone? 17
• Win! Wildlife on your doorstep photography and
drawing competition 20
Ways to give: A will to preserve our true wilderness areas 21
TAILS FROM THE FIELD
• Farm planning: on the path to sustainable land
management 22
• Making the most of a tough situation 23
• Wildlife and Energy training project spreads wings to
Lesotho 24
• Opening the door to a world of knowledge 24
• Oil and gas development and its implication on Grey
Crowned Cranes and wetlands 26
Showcasing our supporters: Q20 supports carnivore
conservation 27
Green heroes
• Giving hope to wildlife 28
Ways to give: Donating is now as easy as snapping your
fingers… or your phone! 29
Walking the talk
• Greening an urban environment 29
Science snippets
• Big data for biodiversity 30
• A safe haven for Wild Dogs near Kruger National Park 30
Showcasing our supporters: Leasing this property will lead to
R10,000 for the EWT 31
Wildlife fact file 31
• Giant Bullfrog
• Barn Owl
• African Grass Owl
• Spotted Eagle Owl
• Large-spotted Genet
• Brown House Snake/Common House Snake
Physical Address: Building K2, Ardeer Road, Pinelands Office Park,
Modderfontein 1609, Gauteng, South Africa, Postal Address: Private Bag X 11, Modderfontein 1645, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 11 372 3600 Fax: +27 (0) 11 608 4682 NPO
1 Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition
Among the many issues and perspectives that serve to fragment the THIS is what the Constitution of South Africa, in Section 24 actually
conservation sector, rather than unite it, perhaps the greatest is the says:
concept of ‘Sustainable Use,’ and where one positions yourself or your Section 24 - Everyone has the right –
organisation along this rather long and winding spectrum. From the a) To an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-
one extreme, which says that humans cannot use any element of our being; and
natural world for their benefit at all, to the other end, which claims b) To have the environment protected, for the benefit of
that full exploitation of nature and all its components is a human right present and future generations, through reasonable legislative
no matter the form this use may take, or its impacts on nature going and other measures that –
forward. i. prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
ii. promote conservation; and
Thankfully, most conservation organisations in South Africa sit iii. secure ecologically sustainable development and use of
somewhere far from the edges of these extreme views, and this helps natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social
to maintain a balance on most platforms. The EWT firmly believes in development.
the use of nature to the benefit of ALL species, humans included, so
essentially we stand FOR the concept of Sustainable Use. The trouble
is not with the principle, but rather, in our view, how it is being adapted What’s so fantastic about this Constitution of ours is that it not only
to suit the needs of a small but increasingly influential pool of ‘special affords humans the right to a clean and healthy environment, but that
interest’ groups that stand to benefit from use that is sustainable only this applies to future generations: those not even born yet! This right,
insofar as it can be sustained, and not for the persistence of a healthy it states, will be realised through conservation (first and foremost) and
environment for all other creatures. then the “ecologically sustainable development and use of natural
resources”. It is quite clear that the application of sustainability (or
In 1992, the World Bank stated that their interpretation of the term persistence if you will) is in relation to the environment and not its
Sustainable Development was “… development that lasts”. With no use. Simply put, the environment must be sustainable, not just our
reference to the environment being the entity that should in fact last, use thereof.
which is more to the heart of what the Rio Convention (at which the
term gained global traction) undoubtedly meant. Ironically, nearly Therefore, seeing as the Endangered Wildlife Trust so firmly believes
30 years later, we see some sectors of society interpreting the term in the power of this true environmental right and the ability of our
Sustainable Use in much the same way. And you argue with them at natural resources to sustainably and equitably transform and uplift
your peril, for the very first thing they like to quote is the South African human lives, we are driving a process to re-examine the narrative
Constitution which allegedly enshrines the right of all people to use around sustainable use (as it is currently being interpreted). A better
natural resources in any way that they like. The trouble is, it doesn’t. interpretation of the Constitutional Right, we would argue, would be
to truncate section 24(b)iii to be simply SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION
Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 2
in which “ecologically sustainable” is positioned appropriately Sustainable Conservation exists when the conservation of biodiversity,
alongside environmental use. with all its various wildlife components existing naturally in a
functioning ecosystem, becomes the driving factor. Ecological
In short, the EWT: sustainability requires functioning systems and balance and we hold
1. Holds that sustainable use as is sometimes applied in South that this underpins the environmental right in our Constitution.
Africa is currently NOT in line with the spirit or even the
language, of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa; To achieve Sustainable Conservation, various forms of both
2. Has become increasingly concerned with the narrow and consumptive and non-consumptive use can and should be employed
misguided approach to sustainable use currently being taken as a means of sustaining the system, and ensuring equitable benefit
in some quarters, leading to industry-scale abuses based sharing for those who contribute to, are impacted on, or who co-exist
on the use of a single entity with no value to the broader as part of these systems. The use of nature in a balanced, holistic and
ecological or social systems; and instead equitable manner is indeed the way in which humans realise their
3. Supports and promotes sustainable conservation as follows: environmental right. This would be to the benefit of the “everyone”
to which our Constitution refers, including those generations not yet
Sustainable Conservation embodies the true spirit of the environmental born. Above all, the conservation of our natural world remains central
rights of all people in South Africa – ensuring that the point of departure to any use thereof, for without these systems, there is no future.
in any decision, policy or system is that the environment (as a complete
and holistic system) is protected for the benefit of present and future Yolan Friedmann
generations. EWT CEO
YolanF@ewt.org.za
1 October:
World Habitat 13 October:
Day Migratory Bird
Day
21 November:
World Fisheries 4 October:
Day World Animal
Day
EWT Events
24 October: Country Club Johannesburg Talk – Book launch: The Game ranger, the knife, the lion
and the sheep – David Bristow, in conversation with Dr Harriet Davies-Mostert. For more information,
contact RebeccaM@ewt.org.za
12 – 16 November: Raptor Research Foundation 2018 Annual Conference, Skukuza, Kruger National
Park. For more information, contact AndreB@ewt.org.za
3 Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition
walk around the sanctuary, and also where I gave my first public bird
talk to WBC members. It is no exaggeration to say that “I cut my birding
teeth” in the park.
On 10 December, 1981, Cynthia and I moved in to the flat in the Delta
Environmental Centre, and Delta Park became my “garden”, birding
patch and study area. I can still remember looking out the window
on that first day in our new home and seeing a male Eurasian Golden
Geoff Lockwood, Resident Manager of the Delta Environmental Oriole moving through the trees around the main sanctuary dam.
Centre The 37 years since then have brought a succession of amazing bird
geofrey@iafrica.com sightings, and have allowed me to document the changes in the local
urban bird population – initially through submissions to the first
My first memory of what is now Delta Park dates back to 1964, when Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP 1) and, currently, to SABAP
I was attacked and repeatedly stung by a colony of paper wasps that 2. Since January 2002, 234 species have been recorded in Delta Park,
I had disturbed whilst clambering over a dry-stone walled kraal on with a further 29 species having been recorded historically, but not
the property. I was back a few times during the early 1970s, dodging again since the start of the intensive survey in 2002.
security to bird in what was then being developed as the Florence
Bloom Bird Sanctuary, and then later when I joined the monthly Being based in the park has also allowed me to undertake a long-
outings of the Witwatersrand Bird Club (WBC) held on the third term study of aspects of the biology, diet, breeding, longevity and
Saturday afternoon each month. It was here that I guided my first bird post-fledging dispersal of the family of Spotted Eagle Owls that have
nested in the park for over 40 years. Initially they nested in the bird
sanctuary, using a succession of old Hamerkop nests, but a run of bad
luck involving hailstorms and collapsing nests meant that they only
fledged a total of three chicks in five years. After building a nest box
for them on the back of the tower of the Centre in 1986, their breeding
success improved dramatically and they have reared an average of just
under three chicks per year since then. Unfortunately we have seen
a radical increase in the numbers
of Pied Crows in Gauteng in recent
years, with counts of over 40 birds
in Delta Park in recently. The crows
have been relentless, harassing the
owls at every turn, and in 2017,
the pair failed to breed for the first
time. A similar story is unfolding this
season. The owls were copulating
and visiting the box each evening
a week ago and egg-laying seemed
imminent but the crows have driven
the adults off again.
It is not just the owls that are being
impacted by the increase in the
crow population. They regularly
also harass all the raptors species
as well as Egyptian Geese and
even dogs in the park. They are
particularly effective and efficient
nest predators and, if their numbers
continue to increase, could have a
significant negative impact on the
breeding success of many of our
urban species. For this reason I
would appreciate any information
regarding the Pied Crow population
in the greater Johannesburg area – behaviour, numbers, population
trends, diet, interactions with other bird species etc. so that we can try
and determine what is driving this increase, and what the impacts on
other species are likely to be. Once we fully understand the nature and
causes of the problem, it may be possible to manage it.
Part of my bird ‘work’ in Delta Park has involved the ringing of over
3,000 birds of over 50 species. In most cases, I hear nothing further
after I release the bird, but there have been exceptions. Over the years,
I have recovered rings from nine of the Southern Masked Weavers that
I had ringed in the park from Spotted Eagle Owl pellets – along with
the ring of yet another weaver, and also of a Cape White-eye (both
ringed by another ringer about 4 kms from the park). Another of ‘my’
ringed weavers was killed by a cat in Vanderbijlpark – 90 kms from
Delta Park. My most amazing ringing experience however has been
Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 4
my relationship with “red over metal”. On 25 May 2000, a female Cape
Robin Chat found her way into the Centre building and, before releasing
her, I fitted a numbered metal SAFRING ring. Twenty-one days later she
was back in the building – and I decided to add a red plastic ring above
the metal one so that I could identify her at a distance and keep track
of how long she stayed around. I wasn’t expecting anything, but 18
years and nearly two months later she is still around the Centre! After
hundreds of re-sightings, and after re-trapping her four times over the
years, I now start most mornings trying to check if she is still around. I
get anxious if I don’t see her for a few days…and then she is back again
and I can relax. She is already more than 18 months older than the
previous longevity record-holder and pushes that record still further
with every sighting! We have come a long way together!
Throughout my involvement with the park, there have been changes
in its birdlife. Some species have disappeared, whilst others have
appeared, established themselves, and are now common. There has
also been a regular stream of vagrants and new species continue pop
up regularly, the most recent being a Grey-headed Bush Shrike feeding
around the entrance to the Centre on 7 July 2018.
During the late 1970s, towards the end of a protracted drought,
White-backed Mousebirds were regular in the park and surrounding
suburbs. The drought broke – and my last record of this typically arid
western species in the area was in 1981. Now only Speckled and Red-
faced Mousebirds occur.
In other cases where we have lost a species, a closely-related species
seems to have supplanted the original one – raising questions as to
what had changed environmentally so as to favour the colonising
species. Perhaps the best example of this has been the demise of Cape
Weavers in Delta Park – and the rise of Thick-billed Weavers over the
same period. Between 2002 and 2007, Cape Weavers were breeding
residents in the park, with an initial population of around 25 birds but
in 2006, the population began to contract, and my last record of this
species in the park was in September 2009. By contrast, Thick-billed
Weavers were recorded only as sporadic visitors between 2002 and
2007 but their numbers have since steadily increased to the point
where over 60 now breed in the park and we regularly see flocks of
several hundred birds flying in to feed during winter.
Another dramatic area of change has been in the raptors that I have
recorded in Delta Park – with a total of 28 species recorded to date.
More and more species seem to be drawn to our ‘urban forest’ and
at least some of these are establishing resident populations. During
my tenure, Black, Ovambo and Little Sparrowhawks have become
regular, with the latter two species having bred successfully on several
occasions. Long-crested Eagles have become fairly regular visitors –
as have European Honey Buzzards, and I’ve even had Bat Hawk and
African Goshawk hunting over the park. At the same time, we seem
to be losing, or have lost, our Yellow-billed Kites and Lanner Falcons.
Lanners were fairly common during the late 1970s and early 1980s
have all but disappeared, while Peregrine Falcons now seem to be
replacing them.
If you bird in and around Delta Park, please join the Delta Park Bird
Challenge on the Birdlasser App and log your sightings so that we can
continue to monitor these changes.
Geoff Lockwood is the resident manager of the Delta Environmental
Centre; a keen birder, atlasser and photographer, as well as a tour
leader for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours based in Austin, Texas. He has
lived in Delta Park for nearly 37 years, and has enjoyed monitoring the
changing birdlife in the park over the past 40 years.
5 Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition
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Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 6
Creating owl-friendly children to accept the presence of owls in townships. Owls offer a long-term,
sustainable solution to high rodent numbers through biological control,
and could eliminate the need to use poison. Owlproject.org focuses on
Delina Chipape, Project Coordinator, Ecosolutions a strong conservation and education component when dealing with
delina@ecosolutions.co.za local communities.
Gauteng is the business hub of South Africa and subsequently has The owl release programme is an Owlproject.org initiative, aimed
one of the highest human populations in the country, resulting in the at creating owl-friendly children within owl-friendly environments.
establishment of large townships throughout the province. About 15 Through this programme, young owls that end up in captivity for
years ago, a trend was observed in the townships such as Alexandra, various reasons are integrated back into the wild. The programme
Sebokeng and Katlehong, where there were drastic increases in rodent has proven to be an excellent awareness raising initiative, and has
numbers in and around the townships. The high rodent populations helped to nurture a real appreciation for owls within these township
caused concerned residents to turn to poison, unfortunately doing areas. Most children living in townships have little or no interaction
more harm than good. The Department of Health was called to with wildlife, and by acting as a surrogate parent to a young owl, they
intervene after two children died in Sebokeng after ingesting rat are often left with a resounding appreciation for owls. The owls we
poison. This is a very common occurrence in South Africa, with over receive have been handed over by various institutions such as the
100 children dying from ingesting rat poison every year, and a child SPCA, Johannesburg Wildlife Vet and concerned citizens, after being
admitted to hospital on an almost daily basis. removed from buildings in townships and suburbs at the request of
residents, or after being orphaned or injured.
The high rodent numbers in townships draw rodent-feeding predators
such as owls. Owls are prevalent in mythologies around the world, The owl release programme is aimed at returning owlets to the
including South Africa, and due to deep-seated cultural beliefs, townships they came from. The owls that are released each get ringed
their appearance often results in increased human-wildlife conflict. with a SAFring, which serves as a method to identify the owl and
Owlproject.org addresses the mythological fears that people in access additional information about the individual through the SAFring
townships have about owls. database, run by the Animal Demography Unit (ADU) at the University
of Cape Town.
Addressing these mythological fears and educating residents on the
ecological importance of owls is the first step in getting communities
7 Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition
Through the Township Owl Project, Owlproject.org organises the
annual Alex Owl Day in Alexandra Township, during which children are Wildlife-friendly gardening – a
return to nature
engaged in various environmentally themed activities. The winning
school walks away with prize money that is to be used to start or grow
environmental clubs at their schools. In 2017, the children had great fun
painting wooden owl cut-outs provided to them. Some of the children
proudly displayed their art pieces at numerous events such as the Emily Taylor, Coordinator, EWT Urban Conservation Programme
BirdLife South Africa Bird Fair at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical EmilyT@ewt.org.za
Gardens, and the Knysna Timber Festival. In 2017, Owlproject.org was
nominated for a Special Achievement Award from the Owl Hall of “Gardening becomes so much simpler, so much more enjoyable, when
Fame at the International Owl Centre in Houston, Minnesota. you work with nature, rather than against it. A haven for wildlife can
still be a beautiful garden and we hope you will be able to see the
proof of this at Brenthurst and join us in this great adventure.” – Strilli
Oppenheimer, Brenthurst Gardens, Johannesburg
Living in an environmentally friendly way and practising Ecological
Landscaping, primarily through the use of indigenous plants, will
entice all sorts of wildlife to your garden and provide a functional
ecosystem that will contribute to the ecology of the broader area
in which you live. A string of such properties can go a long way to
reducing the effects of habitat fragmentation on wildlife, by creating
pathways made up of green stepping stones between green areas in
the city. These pathways greatly benefit genetic and species richness
in all areas of the city through connecting populations and reducing
pressure on isolated sites.
Basic principles of Ecological Landscaping
• Maintain natural landscapes as far as possible
• This includes soil, rocks, indigenous vegetation and structural
aspects such as water courses and topography.
• Integrate designs into the existing landscape
• Work with what you have to ensure ecological integrity of the
property
• Retain natural vegetation buffers around water features
• This will help prevent the spread of alien/invasive species by
Owlproject.org is also currently leading an Owl Naming Programme.
Traditionally each owl species in South Africa has common names in • restricting their access to water
Afrikaans or English, but this project aims to officially include names • Remove alien invasive plant species wherever possible
in all nine indigenous South African languages in media and reference • Select new plant species carefully (see section on selecting plants
materials. The project will be undertaken nationally and will involve below)
numerous secondary schools. Each school will provide suggested
names based on appearance, biology and behaviour of the owl • Approach pest management holistically to avoid unnecessary use
species. Once the proposed names are obtained, Owlproject.org will of pesticides
collaborate with WITS University Department of Linguistics to make • Use organic mulches and fertilisers
sure the names are grammatically and linguistically correct before • Plant at different heights
finalising and publishing them. The goal of this project is to include
the new names for the owl species in the next Roberts Bird Book. The
languages that will be covered are Sepedi, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Why plant indigenous?
Ndebele, Zulu, Xhosa, Tsonga and Swati. Indigenous animals are far more likely to inhabit a property if the
property contains indigenous plants that can provide these animals
with the best resources. Indigenous gardening may not create the
archetypal western idea of a beautiful garden but it brings with it a
wilder, more alive and vibrant environment that can ultimately sustain
itself. Remember, however, that it will require a substantial amount of
work, and time, to get an already transformed area of land to a point
where it becomes a self-sustaining, functional ecosystem.
The basics
While planting indigenous is preferable to planting exotic, it is still
important to select plants from your specific region, as they have
adapted to the area’s specific rainfall patterns and weather conditions.
Also ensure that the plant is suitable for the amount of sun it will be
exposed to.
Selecting plants
Some species, be it herbs, vegetables, trees, shrubs or grasses,
grow more successfully when planted next to certain other species.
This is known as companion planting. There are, however, plant
combinations that have a detrimental effect on each other, or out
Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 8
animals often drown in even small bodies of water if the sides are
steep or slippery and they cannot get out.
Cover
Garden wildlife also needs sufficient cover from the elements, as
well as from each other (and domestic creatures such as dogs, cats,
and children). Adding items such as rocks can help create shelter for
small species. It is advisable also not to be too tidy and to let your
grass grow a little bit, particularly around the edges of beds and water
features – this will provide a perfect habitat for smaller organisms.
When landscaping does not allow for natural nesting opportunities,
it may be useful to install some artificial structures such as bird or bat
boxes, yet there are no guarantees that these will be utilised by desired
species. Any artificial houses must be accessible and ensure minimal
disturbance by children and predators (including domestic animals).
Space
Different wildlife species require different sizes and types of habitat.
Use of space in Ecological Landscaping is very important to ensure
that animals have a variety of options, including space that is relatively
undisturbed by human activity.
Some other ideas
• Give your dog or cat a bell to reduce the threat they pose to
indigenous wildlife
• Erect barriers around young plants and remove them once the
plants have become more established and are more resilient to
disturbance by children, animals and wildlife
• Make certain areas more inviting for children and pets so that
they don’t disturb wildlife habitats
Being water wise
Following the basic principles of Ecological Landscaping will
automatically assist you in saving water but there are many other
things you can do to decrease your water usage, which will in turn
contribute to maintaining our country’s natural water balance. The
first step in living a water-wise lifestyle in your house and garden is
to conserve municipal water by using it sparingly – not leaving taps to
run and fixing any leaks in taps or pipes. But there are multiple other
simple ways in which you can contribute further:
• Reuse grey water from sinks and bathtubs to water non-food
plants
• Harvest free rainwater in rain tanks (such as JoJo Tanks)
compete each other for resources. So, if you are not companion • Remove declared alien invader plants
planting, you should at least consider designing your garden so that • Select appropriate grass types
plants near each other are non-competing.
• Zone your garden into different hydro zones and group plants
according to their water usage requirements
Attracting wildlife to your garden • Use compost, manure and water retentive polymers
As with humans, plants and animals have a hierarchy of needs, and at
the base of this hierarchy are food, water, cover and space. • Mulch, mulch, mulch! This allows the water to slowly percolate
into the soil and not evaporate too quickly
Food • Irrigate efficiently by applying the right amount of water at
To cater to as wide a variety of species as possible, you will want to the right time. Watering during the hottest time of the day is
diversify the types of food items available in your garden. To cover extremely wasteful because the moisture evaporates almost
all your bases you should ensure that there is green vegetation, fruit, immediately and very little water actually reaching the plant roots
seeds, insects, nuts and nectar rich flowers. This will attract many • Use innovative watering techniques such as drip irrigation, soaker
species of birds and bats, small mammals, insects, reptiles and hoses, installed timers or cut-off valves
amphibians (provided they can get into the property), and other
necessary micro-organisms. It is also helpful to ensure that food items
Rand Water has wonderful tips on how to save water on their website
are available at different and appropriate heights – particularly if
– www.randwater.co.za
you are hoping to attract a certain species. You may want to use bird
feeders in winter periods when food availability is low.
You can support the critical work of the EWT’s Urban
Water
Conservation Programme, which strives to connect people with
Having a permanent source of clean water in your garden will make
nature, by visiting www.givengain/c/endangered/ and using the
it irresistible to wildlife, provided it is safe from predators and
reference “urban” in the message box.
undisturbed. It is also advisable that water sources are designed
in such a way that animals can get in and out of the water easily, as
9 Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife EditionLocated in greater Kruger, Limpopo, South Africa
+27 (0) 11 817 5560 • reservations@karongweportfolio.com
www.karongweportfolio.com
Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 10Showcasing our supporters There’s a bat in my kitchen,
Celebrating an anniversary with
what should I do?
Signature Lux by Onomo Emily Taylor, Coordinator, EWT Urban Conservation Programme
EmilyT@ewt.org.za
They say time flies when you are having fun. It feels like just yesterday
A recent study of the distribution of urban wildlife in the City of
that the EWT entered into a cause-related marketing relationship with
Johannesburg produced findings that indicate that wildlife sightings are
the then Signature Lux Hotel, championed and facilitated by three
reported most in areas not far from green spaces (parks, waterways,
Richland directors – Johan Franck, Paul Kelley and Paul Hailwood.
nature reserves etc.), but also in areas dominated by certain
land-cover classes. Over 25% of sightings were recorded in urban
According to Johan, there is a seamless relationship between tourism
residential areas with dense trees and bush, and these areas were
and conservation as globalisation is continuously breaking boundaries
also where the most species diversity was recorded. These results
as people travel the world for either business or leisure. It was,
mimicked many from around the world that say that these suburban
therefore, a no-brainer for these philanthropists to connect the dots
areas provide the richest variety of habitat, food and shelter, and
and come up with a cause-related marketing concept where R5 per
are therefore attractive to many animal and plant species. Many of
booking is donated to the work of the EWT to support its work against
these animals have become so common, having adapted to survive
extinction
by raiding our rubbish bins or nesting in our roofs, that many people
consider them to be pests.
A year later, over R300,000 has been raised through this initiative.
Signature Lux Hotel was recently acquired by Onomo Hotel group,
Adapting to living in close proximity to humans has also reduced
slightly changing the name to Signature Lux Hotel by Onomo and
many species’ fear and so these animals frequently come into conflict
according to Hannes Pienaar, General Manager, and Anne Alp,
with residents, particularly when they become accustomed to being
Financial Manager “there is no need to change the winning formula”
fed, either intentionally or unintentionally, such as is the case with
as the Onomo brand shares the same passion for conservation, and
the baboons in Cape Town. There are, however, indigenous species
this relationship is growing from strength to strength.
that have a bad reputation but that aren’t nearly as destructive or
undesirable as is conceived. Bats and birds are just some of the animals
The affordable guest experience, contemporary comfort and the art
that are frequently encountered in and around homes.
of African living with tech-savvy service aimed at the global-minded
business travellers, unique personalised freedom and hassle-free
flexibility that is synonymous with millennials and business travellers Bats
alike is what makes this hotel a unique option. And what is equally
unique is that by booking into this hotel, you automatically become Why should we conserve bats?
a philanthropist and a champion for conservation, as part of your One insectivorous bat can consume 50–70% of its body weight in insects
booking fee is donated to the EWT. in one night. This aids extensively in the prevention of the spread of
diseases and controls the number of bothersome mosquitoes. Fruit
As we move into the second year, the EWT thanks the three Richland eating bats pollinate many of the indigenous plants on which we rely
directors for conceptualising this productive relationship and Onomo for food, drink and beautiful flowers.
Group for sharing this vision.
Find out more at http://signatureluxhotels.com/ Concerns related to the presence of bats
A common misconception is that bats breed profusely due to the large
number of individuals that congregate in roosts. The truth is that bats
have very low reproductive rates, usually only producing one pup after
a gestation period of between two and six months, depending on the
species. For their size, they are the slowest reproducing mammals in
the world. Due to this low reproductive rate, population viability is
gravely affected by high mortality rates when bats are placed under
threat, such as they are in many urban areas. Due to large-scale
habitat loss, bats have had to adapt to living in urban areas, and
have become an essential part of our ecosystem, but they also fall
victim, often unintentionally, to many human activities in urban areas.
Some of the greatest dangers bats face are as a result of ignorance,
superstition, indirect poisoning and roost disturbance or destruction
during development.
Myths – fact or fiction?
• Bats are rats with wings.
Fiction: Bats are not related to rodents but are classified in a
group of their own called Chiroptera, more closely related to
primates than rodents.
• Bats suck human blood.
Fiction: There are only three species of bats that consume blood
and these occur only in South America. The tiny amount of blood
consumed is usually lapped up from an open wound of an animal
and not sucked as is often thought.
11 Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition• Bats are physical manifestations of human souls not
yet at peace.
Fiction: This belief is a result of bats occupying caves,
which were often resting places for the dead.
• Consuming bat eyeballs will allow you to see in the
dark.
Fiction: Bats cannot see in the dark, they use
echolocation to find their way around.
• Bats breed profusely.
Fiction: Bats have slow reproductive rates.
• Bats get tangled or nest in your hair.
Fiction
• Bats are aggressive and will attack.
Fiction
There are, however, some valid concerns people have
around bats inhabiting their homes. These include:
• Noise disturbance
• Droppings in and around the house
• Odour
• Damage to crops Wherever your adventure
•
•
Dirt associated with bats
takes you, Trappers is the
place to go for all your outdoor
Carry mites, fleas etc.
• Present a health risk (e.g. Rabies)
o Like any other mammal, bats can carry rabies equipment & apparel needs.
but the percentage of those infected is no more
significant than for any other indigenous species.
Threats to bats in urban areas
Just as bats have the potential to cause problems for us in
our homes, our activities can also have detrimental effects
on bat populations:
• Domestic pets
• Poisoning
• Drowning
• Sticky fly-traps
• Electrocution
• Habitat modification and other disturbances
What to do?
The first thing to consider is whether the root of your
problem is definitely bats. Mice and rats have similar
droppings and are far more likely to be the culprits of
destructive behaviour. If it is the thought of bats roosting
in your house that is the problem, there are a number of
effective mitigation techniques that take your safety, and
that of the bats, into account:’
• Assess habitat: Is there a particular plant that is Stores country wide
attracting the bats? Certain tree species, for
example, attract fruit bats – the culprits of urine trappers.co.za /TrappersOutdoor
spraying when returning to their roosts. Consider
Images are for illustrative purposes only.
Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 12removing or relocating such plants, as even ridding your property Birds
of the bats will not solve the problem if another colony simply
moves in to utilise the plant.
Why should we conserve birds?
As with bats, birds play vital roles in the maintenance of a healthy
• Physical exclusion
natural system through pollination of flowers, seed dispersal,
o This can be done by attaching one-way tubes at all entry as a source of food and pest control, but to name a few of the
points to the roost so that the bats can come out but cannot ecological services they provide. Having an owl in your area can
re-enter. significantly reduce rodent populations more efficiently and with no
negative effects on the environment or the health of people and other
o Never evict bats during the winter while they are hibernating animals. Birds are also an important part of many cultural and religious
because they are too weak to search for a new roost and traditions and are appreciated for their aesthetics and song all over
will die. It is also problematic to evict adult bats between the world.
September and January, as this is when the babies are being
nursed and, if trapped inside without adults, will die and Concerns related to the presence of birds
create an odour problem. Generally, we like birds in our gardens, provided they are attractive
and sing sweetly. There are others, however, that we are not so fond
o The best time to evict bats and implement exclusion methods of. Hadedas, for example, are incredibly loud, cause a mess with their
in South Africa is between February and May after babies large droppings, and are not very pretty. The same goes for crows, Grey
have been nursed. Go-away Birds and other such unfortunate species. Birds of prey, like
o Cover all possible entry points with bird netting / wire or fill owls, are also not a favourite of many. In many African cultures, owls
them in are considered to be a bad omen, or an evil spirit, and in others they
are caught and killed as ingredients in traditional medicine and ritual,
• Deterrents while some people fear that large birds of prey present a danger to
o Audible deterrents – Ultrasonic devices that emit high their pets, small livestock, and even children. Some common concerns
frequency sounds that confuse the bats; predator calls. In people have include:
general, these devices have not proven very effective • Noise
• Droppings
o Chemical deterrents – Gels, sprays or powders that
discourage bats from occupying the area • Odour
• Damage to property and equipment
• Alternative roosts – bat boxes
• Nuisance
• Sealing the structure while providing an alternate roost (a bat • Dirty
box) is the most effective long-term solution.
• Carry mites, fleas etc.
• Birds present a health risk
When selecting and implementing control measures, bear the
following in mind: Threats to birds in urban areas
All chemical usage on bats is illegal (bats are protected by As with bats and other indigenous wildlife that has adapted to sharing
provincial legislation). our space, birds are vulnerable to injury as a result of our activities,
such as through:
Chemicals that kill bats are also hazardous to humans and pets. • Domestic pets
Poisoning or removal of a colony can be a fruitless exercise • Poisoning
because the roost is then made available for other bat colonies • Collisions with power lines
to move in. • Collisions with vehicles
Some pest control services will offer to catch and release bats • Habitat modification and other disturbances
far away, but bats have been proven to return from up to 600 • Electrocution
kilometres away and so they may very well come back. • Killed in traps and shot
What to do?
To prevent annoyance or damage to property as a result of the
presence of certain, less desirable, bird species, there are a number of
control methods that can be implemented that do not pose a threat to
the lives of the birds, or any other organisms. These include:
• Exclusion
o Use of bird netting to prevent access and roosting
o Anti-roosting wire system / chicken mesh / spikes
o Electric wires
• Deterrents
o Visual deterrents e.g. scarecrow methods
o Chemical and gel repellents
o Audio deterrents - ultrasonic devices; distress calls; predator
calls
• Trapping and releasing elsewhere
• Alternative roosts – owl boxes / nest boxes
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Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 14Green spaces bird sanctuary boasts up to 250 bird species. With no entrance fee
attached to visiting the park, it is worthwhile to visit just to take a walk
with your dog or have a picnic with the family.
Zethu Sibiya, Environmental
Education & Urban Conservation Project Officer, EWT Urban Also situated at the Delta Park is the Delta Environmental Centre.
Conservation Programme School and community groups make use of the centre, where hand-on
ZethuS@ewt.org.za activities take place both indoors and outdoors. Schools visiting the
centre may explore different environmental topics such as biodiversity,
A green space is an outdoor, vegetated area that sustains communities water and waste management. For a small entrance fee, both adults
of living organisms and fulfils ecological functions. In truth, the services and learners can have access to the educational displays at the Gold
provided by green spaces in our urban areas are far too complex for us Fields Discovery Centre. The Delta Environmental Centre includes a
to fully comprehend. Often referred to as ‘green lungs’, these vegetated recycling centre/depot which was built in order to minimize the waste
areas filter carbon dioxide in the air and release oxygen so that we which is dumped and buried at landfills.
may breathe. This is but one service they provide that keep humans
alive, one amongst countless others. We cannot endure without them. Useful Information
Perhaps the psychological wellbeing that they allegedly bring us is our Location: 77 Craighall Rd, Victory Park, Randburg, 2195
sub conscious’ way of reminding us of this fact. GPS Coordinates: S 26.1235; E 28.0084
Classification: Open Park Land
Johannesburg contains an impressive 2,343 parks, and this number Established: 1930’s
does not include private open spaces or the some ten million street side Size: 104 ha
trees in the city. Combine all of this with smaller residential gardens, Opening hours: 06:00 – 18:00 (Monday to Sunday)
and it is easy to understand why the city is known as the largest urban Park Entrance fee: Free
forest in the world. If one follows the logic of the study mentioned, it’s Delta Environmental Centre Fee: R62.00 per learner for 3 hour
not surprising either that Africa.com rates Johannesburg as the fourth programme
most liveable city in Africa. R37.00 per learner for 1½ hour programme
Activities: Walking trail, birding, and weekly parkrun, small concerts
Facilities: Toilets, braai facilities, picnic area, play area for children,
Delta Park scout training grounds.
Special Features: Florence Boom Bird Sanctuary, Recycling Depot and
Delta Park is one of Gauteng’s oldest parks, situated in northern
Delta Education Centre
Johannesburg. The park includes the Florence Bloom Bird Sanctuary,
Species of interest: Striped Mice, Slender Mongoose and Large
which is considered the oldest bird sanctuary in the city. The 7.5 ha
Spotted Genet can be found foraging around the park. You may find a
15 Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Editionrare occurrence of reptiles such as Rinkhals and Marsh Terrapins.
Delta Environmental Centre Email Address: delta@deltaenviro.org.za
Beaulieu bird sanctuary
Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary is situated within a gated community in
Kyalami. There are three bird hides in the sanctuary, which all provide
a unique viewing experience of the different bird species. There are
also walkways that allow visitors the opportunity to get a closer view
of their favourite bird species.
Useful Information
Location: Witpoort (Beaulieu), Midrand, 1684
GPS Coordinates: S 25.9804; E 28.0697
Classification: Bird sanctuary
Size: 16 ha
Opening hours: Daylight
Park Entrance fee: Free
Activities: Birding
Facilities: Bird Hide
Special Features: Walkways for unique birding experience
Species of interest: African Reed Warbler, African Wattled Lapwing,
Blacksmith Lapwing, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-headed Heron,
Malachite Kingfisher and African Fish Eagle.
Website: http://www.jhbcityparks.com
Telephone number: 011 712 6600
James and Ethel Gray Park
James and Ethel Gray Park in Birdhaven, Johannesburg is 36 hectares
in size. The Sandspruit River flows through the park, attracting a
multitude of bird species and residents alike. The park was originally a
bird sanctuary and was named after the former Johannesburg mayor,
James Gray, and his wife, but is now hugely popular with picnickers,
runners and walkers, particularly those with dogs. On a weekend
evening local residents and their socialised dogs come out in scores to
enjoy the well cared-for, beautiful and safe park. The park is now fully
fenced and contains new ablution facilities, a play area for kids, safe Useful Information
parking and a lovely landscape with views of the famous Johannesburg Location: Houghton Drive, Houghton
skyline. GPS Coordinates: S 26.173289, E 28.052085
Useful Information Classification: Municipal Nature Reserve
Location: Atholl Oaklands Road Established: 1936
GPS Coordinates: S 26.139431, E 28.062826 Size: 16 ha
Classification: Open Park Land Opening hours: 06:00 – 18:00 (Monday to Sunday)
Established: 1946 Park Entrance fee: Free
Size: 36 ha Activities: Walking trails, birding, dog walking, educational walks, art
Opening hours: 06:00 – 18:00 (Monday to Sunday) exhibitions, photography
Park Entrance fee: Free Facilities: Toilets, parking, play area for children, benches.
Activities: Walking trails, birding, Acrobranch, dog walking, playing Special Features: Indigenous vegetation and koppies, views of the city,
Facilities: Toilets, parking, play area for children, open field for games, animal statues by James Delaney.
benches. Species of interest: Pristine indigenous vegetation, particularly Rock
Special Features: Views of the city Elder (Afrocanthium mundianum), Velvet Rock Elder (Afrocanthium
Species of interest: Over 100 bird species have been recorded in the gilfillanii) and the large Yellowwoods (Podocarpus latifolius).
park. Follow Friends of The Wilds on Facebook to keep up to date with
events.
The Wilds
The Wilds is a 16 hectare Municipal Nature Reserve nestled in the For more information on these and other green spaces in Johannesburg,
koppies behind Houghton in Johannesburg. The Wilds is made up of please contact Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ):
indigenous vegetation, koppies, waterfalls, and rambling walkways. Website: www.jhbcityparks.com
Once considered a haven for criminals, the park was for a long time Telephone number: +27 11 888 4831
avoided by residents and became overgrown and desolate. In recent Johannesburg City Parks Email address:
years, the community has partnered with Joburg City Parks and Zoo joburgconnect@joburg.org.za
to reclaim and revive the park. One resident, James Delaney, was the
pioneer for this revival and enticed others to start using it through art.
James created 67 beautiful owl statues and installed them throughout
the park, drawing more and more people to come and view the
exhibits. He has since installed many more statues of bushbabies, a
kudu, a pangolin, ostriches and monkeys. The park is now extremely
popular with Joburgers streaming through to take part in walks,
picnics, rock climbing, fun days, or just enjoy the exquisite and tranquil
landscape of the park.
Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 16this poorly regulated fishery and has granted licenses to politically
This article first appeared in Yale Environment 360 connected boat owners, whose catch is often sold to Australia, where
https://e360.yale.edu/features/shark-mystery-where-have-south- it winds up in fish ’n chips.
africas-great-whites-gone
Since 2013, about three to six demersal longliners — fishing boats that
set lines with up to 2,000 baited hooks on or near the sea floor — have
Shark mystery: Where have been working hundreds of miles of the southern coast of South Africa.
Fallows says these boats have intensified their efforts in recent years
South Africa’s Great Whites
and have driven stocks of smaller shark species to collapse, which may
have led to starvation of juvenile Great Whites and driven other Great
Whites elsewhere. The fishery may also be illegally hooking and killing
gone? young Great Whites and protected hammerhead sharks, he believes.
While noting the decline in False Bay and other areas, some South
African scientists say they still have not determined the cause. Other
Adam Welz possibilities, these scientists say, are that pods of Killer Whales —
adamwelz@gmail.com which feed on Great White Sharks — are more active in the area,
driving the Great Whites elsewhere. Changing ocean conditions, some
The world’s most famous sharks are the Great Whites off Cape Town, experts say, could also be forcing Great White Sharks to search for new
featured in the popular “Air Jaws” series. But now these sharks have hunting grounds.
mostly gone missing, and some experts blame a fishery for depleting
the smaller sharks that the Great Whites feed on. “There could be some shift in the environment happening,” says
Meaghen McCord, founding director of the South African Shark
It’s a shimmering early morning in False Bay, a shallow, 18-mile-wide Conservancy. “We’re just not sure, and with us being on the cusp of
basin on the southwest corner of South Africa. A small boat with a possible large climate-related shifts, few scientists are prepared to say
dozen tourists sways rhythmically in the swell just downwind of Seal anything conclusive just yet.”
Island, a strip of rock that barely clears the water and is covered
with thousands of breeding Cape fur seals and tens of thousands of Marine biologist Sara Andreotti, a postdoctoral researcher at
seabirds. The animals’ waste saturates the breeze with sharp-smelling Stellenbosch University, led a study that estimated the total South
ammonia, and a light veil of winter air pollution hangs over the city of African population of Great Whites at only between 353 and 522
Cape Town, which lies just to the north. individuals in 2011 – making them far more scarce than the country’s
Suddenly and almost silently, a gusher of white water explodes from
the sea 100 yards from the boat. The tourists glimpse a muddled flash
of fins and a massive tail whipping around inside the crown of flying
foam. The seething water flattens, and seconds later the gasping snout
of a wounded seal breaks the surface. The unmistakable dorsal fin of
a large Great White Shark comes up straight and steady behind it, and
the seal is taken down in the giant fish’s jaws.
Since 1996, Chris Fallows has made a good living taking thousands of
tourists and dozens of film crews into False Bay to witness extraordinary
sights like this, either from the deck of his boat or from an underwater
cage held alongside. Great Shite sharks congregate around Seal Island
in the southern winter to feed on newly weaned Cape Fur Seals, which
take their first, naive swims at this time of year. The White Sharks here
are noted for their breach kills; starting at depth, they swim rapidly
upward and hit shallow-swimming seals from below. The sharks’
momentum carries them in the air, which makes for the spectacular
images in the Air Jaws series of documentary films — largely hosted
by Fallows — that have had billions of views on the Discovery Channel
since 2001.
“The flying sharks of False Bay are now the most famous sharks in the
world,” he says.
It’s become increasingly rare, though, to witness these remarkable
kills, particularly in the last two years. For more than two decades,
Fallows has been keeping records of kills and attempted kills by sharks
seen from his boat in False Bay. These sightings have dropped from a
peak average of more than 11 events per trip in 2004 to around 0.3
events per trip in 2017 and this year. Other shark tourism operators
and scientists have noted a similar change in the world’s best-known
shark hunting ground and for at least a hundred miles to the east. The
question now is, what has happened to the sharks?
Fallows and his colleagues in South Africa’s shark tourism business
think they have the answer. The culprit, they believe, is a long-line
fishery that has been targeting smaller species of sharks, including
Soupfin and Smooth-hound sharks, which are a favoured prey species
of Great Whites. The South African government has encouraged
17 Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Editionwell-known rhinos. She cautions that pointing to Orcas and undefined 55). Shark populations usually recover from decline far more slowly
environmental changes can move the focus from overfishing by than most bony fishes, over decades rather than years. Given this,
“shifting the blame onto something we don’t have control upon.” and the pivotal ecological role sharks play as top predators, Chivell
Andreotti says that fishermen are “targeting Great White food left, believes the government needs to put an immediate moratorium on
right, and centre.” She’s concerned that observations by shark tourism shark demersal longlining, “because in a year’s time it might be too
operators – who spend more time on the water than most scientists late.” South Africa’s fisheries are largely regulated by the Department
– indicate a sharp population decline since her study was completed, of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (DAFF), which gathers data on
but says no peer-reviewed data is yet available to confirm such a drop. fish catches and populations and grants fishing rights to individuals
“I’m angry and desperate,” says Wilfred Chivell, who owns a large and companies that conform to certain requirements, such as owning
cage-diving ecotourism company in the epicentre of shark-watching, appropriate boats or belonging to race groups that were disadvantaged
Gansbaai (“Goose Bay”, in Afrikaans), about 30 miles east of False Bay. under the apartheid regime. DAFF scientists analyze data to make
He says that sightings of White WSharks have declined sharply in his catch size recommendations for different species, but DAFF managers
area, too, and that local fishermen complain to him that demersal (many of whom are not scientists) ultimately determine fishing
longliners have wiped out the Bronze Whaler Sharks they used to permit conditions and grant fishing rights based on a number of
catch by handline from small boats offshore. Chivell says he has had considerations, many of which are political.
to pay the locals not to catch the remaining Bronze Whalers close to
shore so he can have something to show his clients when Great Whites In 2014, the government launched Operation Phakisa, a drive to “grow
are absent. the ocean economy” and help reduce the country’s shockingly high
unemployment rate by creating a million new jobs. Employees at
In 1991, South Africa became the first country to grant legal protection environmental non-profits say that DAFF management is now under
to Great White Sharks, and since then shark viewing and cage diving immense pressure to be seen creating jobs. The South African fishing
have become a major tourist industry along its southern coast, industry has been beset by allegations of high-level corruption for
hosting more than 80,000 visitors a year and helping to contribute years; many of the biggest players in scandals linked to the current
tens of millions of dollars to the economy. Many shark conservation ruling party have roots in fishing.
organisations are active here, sharks are often portrayed positively in
the local media, and many visitors doubtless leave with the impression A 2014 government-commissioned investigation into fishing permit
that South Africa is serious about shark conservation. irregularities found that at least three participants in the demersal
shark longline fishery had obtained rights without having the required
Most sharks are vulnerable to overfishing because they have few shark-fishing boats. Imraan “Imie” Patel — head of Letap Fishing CC
young, mature slowly, and live a long time (Soupfin Sharks can live to — somehow got a shark permit with a squid-fishing boat. Another
influential player in the sector, Sharmilla van Heerden of Fisherman
Fresh, has multiple boats and touts her relationships with DAFF
officials.
Fallows and Chivell do not have conclusive evidence that Soupfin and
Smooth-hound shark populations have collapsed or that demersal
longliners are to blame, because they have not been given access to
DAFF’s catch data and DAFF scientists have yet to complete current
stock assessments for these species. But they say that DAFF’s data
must show that stocks of these sharks are in trouble; a presentation
about fishing rights given by DAFF officials to coastal communities in
June includes a graph showing Smooth-hound and Soupfin sharks as
“under heavy fishing pressure” and Soupfin sharks as “depleted.” DAFF
did not respond to requests for comment for this article or provide
Yale Environment 360 with recent data on shark catches.
A research programme led by shark researcher Matt Dicken has tagged
674 Smooth-hound Sharks in the port of Coega, about 500 miles east
of False Bay. Dicken says that of the nine tags reported outside the
port, seven were from sharks caught by demersal shark longliners.
Unpublished data from an acoustic tagging program that tracks fish
along the South African coast suggests high mortality rates among
young Hammerhead and Bronze Whaler sharks.
Chris Fallows has documented dramatic drops in young Hammerhead
Sharks in a nursery site on the south coast. Although Hammerheads are
strictly protected, he says it’s likely they’re being caught by demersal
longliners, which are active in the area.
WWF-South Africa also has raised red flags about shark fishing via its
South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI), which scientifically
assesses available data and ranks species as green (well-managed),
orange (consume with caution) and red (do not buy) to encourage
consumers to buy fish from well-managed stocks. In 2015, SASSI
ranked Soupfin and Common Smooth-hound sharks as red species
owing to a lack of data about stocks and indications that they may be
overfished.
“We operate according to the precautionary principle,” says Pavitray
Pillay, manager of SASSI. “We need evidence that the stock is healthy,”
Conservation Matters - Issue 10: The Urban Wildlife Edition 18You can also read
