Kyalami residents bring animal safety to the fore on Mandela Day
KYALAMI – Read about how animals get trapped and what the community did to help them.
Greater Kyalami Conservancy (Gekco) and Sector 4 police celebrated Mandela Day in their unique style.
As part of celebrating Mandela’s well-lived life of sacrifice for others, the organisations brought the safety of animals to the forefront.
Backed by 65 volunteers, members of the two organisations searched the open veld in Kyalami to remove snares. Suspected snares and snare material were removed and the area was cleaned of rubbish.
Anton van Niekerk of Gekco explained that wire or cord snares were used to trap small animals, birds and domestic animals.
“These are often placed along trails that wildlife use when crossing the veld. These can be attached to shrubs or fences and catch not only birds and wildlife, but also domestic animals. This often causes intense suffering and even death,” he said.
Pikitup, Friends of Free Wildlife and Khanya Engineering Projects joined the clean-up with children from neighbouring Riversands Farm who said they often see wild animals in the veld and wetlands.
Common species in the area which fall prey to snares are Guinea fowl, hare, jackal and mongoose.
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