I DID not want to believe that in this techno world we still cannot be good neighbours to animals.
Unfortunately, I found a run-over genet on the 12th Avenue bridge a few years ago. That is when I became aware that there still is wildlife in Sandton. You don’t need to go far or on a safari, you can just step out into your backyard.
I recently paged through a book at the library in Rivonia about Sandton’s wildlife, possibly in the 1980s and I was surprised by all that was living here then.
It would be a nice idea to have people send in photos or stories of what animals they found in their gardens over the years.
Although you do not see a genet in your garden, they could still be there. They are nocturnal. Last year, when my mom decided to have a huge palm tree cut down in her garden, a genet was injured when the palm tree crashed to the ground… Had any of us known they live tucked away in palm trees, I think the palm tree would have been checked beforehand.
I have this idea of planting some palm trees along the Sandspruit River in honour of the poor genet. I have a few scraggly plants I am growing [so that I can].
On another note, drivers need to be reminded that rushing on the road is sinful. Besides the dead genet, I have picked up many knocked down birds in our streets.
I know children do not play in the streets like we used to, but I often [worry] that a child in my street [might decide] to cycle down the driveway and onto the street. With some of my neighbours, they would have no chance.
Ed: This letter has been cut
