Eagle monitoring at risk over new fees

The Black Eagle Project Roodekrans (BEPR) has been monitoring the world-famous pair of Verreaux’s Eagles at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden (WSNBG) since 1988, but their vital monitoring activities now hang in the balance.

According to BEPR committee member Dougie Crewe a recent announcement by the National South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) will see entrance fees at the park rising to such an extent that many of the BEPR members can no longer afford to continue with their regular monitoring activities.

BEPR monitors consist of volunteers that monitor and record the activity and behaviour of the famous eagle pair for research and statistical purposes. The BEPR is in constant communication with other monitoring groups in South Africa, as well as with regional government departments.

“There are some monitors who are prepared to pay the new fees for reasons of their own,” says Crewe. “But most of the BEPR monitors are pensioners, not all able to afford the new entrance fee.

“There are also those monitors who feel that monitoring just doesn’t make economic sense anymore, having to pay entrance for providing an essential service to the Botanical Gardens.”

According to Crewe, the Black Eagles of Roodekrans are probably the most famous eagles in the world, all as a result of what the BEPR do.

The Black Eagles of Roodekrans Facebook page has more than 342k followers worldwide.

“All our posts mention the WSNBG,” he says. “That means free publicity for them.

“Our BEPR booklet is widely distributed in South Africa as well as abroad in countries like England, Holland, Australia and many more. This means even more free publicity for the Garden.

“In addition, our monitors interact with visitors to the Garden, educating them on the eagles and the history of the Garden and the project, and often giving them free access to our telescopes to view the eagles.

“We often do talks for schools, local councillors and international guests, and even to guests of the management of the Garden.”

Crewe says that the BEPR has had discussions with local management, who agree that the monitors provide an essential service.

“The message we get is that the new fee structure is imposed by SANBI head office in Kirstenbosch, Cape Town, and that there is nothing they can do about it.

“We have sent correspondence to them to try and negotiate a fair compromise, but this has thus far remained unanswered.”

Crewe adds that the new fee structure is likely to see BEPR lose many of its critical monitors.

“These are members who have paid a reasonable Botanical Society of Southern Africa (BOTSOC) fee for many years. It is a pity that we now stand to lose important contributors to such a worthwhile cause.

“I don’t understand why our monitors should be required to pay a fee at all, given the important service that we provide.”

According to Nontsikelelo Mpulo, Director of marketing, communication and commercialisation at SANBI, the new fee structure is part of SANBI’s new membership scheme, which comes into effect on April 1, 2024.

“It enables people to become SANBI card-carrying members and enjoy unlimited access for a year to all South Africa’s National Botanical and Zoological Gardens.

“Adult membership is R800 per annum. Membership for verified students is R600 per annum. Children (aged six—17) pay R400 per annum. Children younger than six do not require membership to enter the gardens.

“Pensioners require membership to enter every day except on those days when they may enter for free on Tuesdays in most Gardens.”

“The introduction of the membership scheme comes after requests received from visitors to our Gardens. We conducted market research and determined that the annual membership fee proposed is reasonable and accessible.

It works out to R3 per entry, per adult who visits five times per a week and it compares really well from an affordability point of view to present pay-per-entry fees at the gates of the National Botanical and Zoological Gardens.”

She adds that educational programmes in the Garden will continue as normal with special reduced rates for schools and other educational research activities.

Crewe contends that the BEPR does not get any recognition for conducting educational research activities.

“We are expected to pay the full R800 per year, per person. This despite the important role we play not only with regard to our monitoring, but also in promoting the Garden and attracting visitors.”