‘No more duiker deaths’, say eMdloti residents
Fed up with the senseless killing of three duikers on Bellamont Road in eMdloti residents have put up signs to warn people against speeding along the road.
EMDLOTI residents have labelled the recent deaths of three duikers along Bellamont Road as ‘unacceptable’. The elusive animals were knocked over and killed by motorists on the busy residential road in the space of three weeks. Residents noted the latest death on Saturday, 25 July.
In response to the killings animal activist and resident, Renée Royal, has placed signs along the road to warn road users of the presence of wildlife. The signs also urge people to stick to the 35km speed limit.
“It is very distressing. The death of one duiker is one too many. Often people drive way too fast. The duikers just leap out of the bushes and if you don’t stick to the speed limit you wont be able to avoid hitting them,” she said.
Royal said she believed that the recent spate of deaths have been facilitated by the fact that the road had recently been re-tarred.
“The sign which specified the 35km speed limit has been removed and with the new smooth road people seem to think it is a race track. This also poses a danger to the pedestrians who are forced to walk in the road as there is no proper pavement,” she added.
The passionate resident said she was inspired by the actions of fellow residents, Belinda Robinson and her son, Shaw-Parker Wreyford, who placed similar posters at the top end of Bellamont Road after a duiker was killed earlier in the year.
“We moved here about four months ago and only learned of the presence of wildlife after the duiker was killed. We figured that there were other residents who also weren’t aware of the duikers and other wildlife, so we wanted to create awareness within the community,” explained Wreyford.
The community, said Royal, has approached the municipality for assistance. She said the traffic as well as the environmental departments have agreed to inspect the road to determine if speed bumps or even a new speed limit sign can be erected.
EMDLOTI residents have labelled the recent deaths of three duikers along Bellamont Road as ‘unacceptable’. The elusive animals were knocked over and killed by motorists on the busy residential road in the space of three weeks. Residents noted the latest death on Saturday, 25 July.
In response to the killings animal activist and resident, Renée Royal, has placed signs along the road to warn road users of the presence of wildlife. The signs also urge people to stick to the 35km speed limit.
“It is very distressing. The death of one duiker is one too many. Often people drive way too fast. The duikers just leap out of the bushes and if you don’t stick to the speed limit you wont be able to avoid hitting them,” she said.
Royal said she believed that the recent spate of deaths have been facilitated by the fact that the road had recently been re-tarred.
“The sign which specified the 35km speed limit has been removed and with the new smooth road people seem to think it is a race track. This also poses a danger to the pedestrians who are forced to walk in the road as there is no proper pavement,” she added.
The passionate resident said she was inspired by the actions of fellow residents, Belinda Robinson and her son, Shaw-Parker Wreyford, who placed similar posters at the top end of Bellamont Road after a duiker was killed earlier in the year.
“We moved here about four months ago and only learned of the presence of wildlife after the duiker was killed. We figured that there were other residents who also weren’t aware of the duikers and other wildlife, so we wanted to create awareness within the community,” explained Wreyford.
The community, said Royal, has approached the municipality for assistance. She said the traffic as well as the environmental departments have agreed to inspect the road to determine if speed bumps or even a new speed limit sign can be erected.
