Is Kloofendal Nature Reserve being mismanaged?
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo not maintaining park
“These holes make the Kloofendal Reserve, with its indigenous inhabitants and visitors, very vulnerable,” said Karin Spottiswoode, committee member for Friends of Kloofendal (FroK).
This comes after the most recent attack on a baby reedbuck by three dogs in the parking lot of the Kloofendal Nature Reserve.
“I was leading an alien invasive hacking session with the Protea Ridge Club on 15 July, when we received a call from Grant Baker. He told us he had just witnessed a mother reedbuck and her baby being chased by three dogs in the parking lot.
In its panic, the little reedbuck crashed into the fence, hurting itself badly. The mother buck got away,” Karin said.
The security guard who was on duty, Nomhlangana Ncube, was able to place herself between the dogs and the bucks, and managed to chase the dogs away.
When Karin arrived at the scene, it did not look good. “The buck’s hind legs were limp and blood was streaming from its nose. I put my tracksuit top over its head, and that seemed to calm it down,” she said.
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The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) manager for the Reserve, who lives on the property, was informed of the incident, and when he arrived at the scene, he suggested the buck should be taken to the Johannesburg Zoo, for a veterinarian to treat it.
“I felt that the buck was in too much pain to endure the long drive, and we could not be sure if a vet would be available. We decided to take her to a Florida veterinarian, where we were told that the buck would probably not have survived the drive to the zoo,” Karin said.
The buck was immediately seen to and treated by Dr Muller, who injected it with a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory. He said that, although the medication would work soon, they could not be sure that the buck would survive.
“We made the little buck as comfortable as possible and hoped that it would survive the night. Sadly, she had to be euthanised the next day, as she had sustained severe neck injuries, resulting in an inability to stand and walk. This has happened on two previous occasions as well,” Karin said sadly.
Upon further investigation, it was found that there were holes in the fence around the reserve’s parking area where the buck got through, making them an easy target. “The dogs from the nearby houses follow the buck through these holes, and chase and attack, and sometimes kill them,” an angry Karin said.
According to Karin, the holes in the fencing around the Reserve have been reported to the JCPZ, which is responsible for managing the Kloofendal Reserve, on numerous occasions by various residents, but it seems that these reports have fallen on deaf ears.
“Although holes have been repaired in the past, new, bigger ones have been cut into the fence for poaching, squatting, or so many other reasons. These holes make the Reserve, with its indigenous inhabitants and visitors, very vulnerable. We have marked the holes with hazard tape so they can be repaired as soon as possible,” said Karin.
She concluded by saying, “Even though JCPZ is responsible for the boundary fencing, as a temporary measure, it would be much appreciated if the community could assist in locating and maybe help repair them. Any volunteers who would like to assist with this, can contact FroK on 079 693 5608.”
She added that they had a number of other concerns that had also been brought to the attention of JCPZ, but, to date, no reaction has been received.
JCPZ was contacted for comment on this matter, but was informed that the spokesperson, Jenny Moodley, was on sick leave, and until she returned to work, nobody else could assist.
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