Firework fiends scare off animals in nature-lover’s paradise
My family and I have lived peacefully in Yellowwood Park, Durban for 25 years.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2014/01/letters6_564682398.jpg)
EDITOR – I feel this is an important topic that urgently needs to be addressed.
My family and I have lived peacefully in Yellowwood Park, Durban for 25 years. The area is loved for its calm atmosphere, closeness to nature and bird life.
From the time our neighbours moved into Kestrel Crescent, we have had constant battles over fireworks.
They use them on a daily basis to scare off the monkeys who pass through our properties.
Steve Smith from Monkey Rescue has paid them a visit and spent time going through the options on how to keep the monkeys away from his property.
We have asked many times for them to be considerate as this not only terrorises the monkeys but also our domestic animals who cannot be sedated on a daily basis, the elderly and our young children who are too scared to play in their own yard because a big bang could go off at any minute.
Despite being civil in the beginning, all was ignored. I understand this is a small offense compared to what our police officers deal with on a daily basis but it should not be allowed to continue.
This behaviour is clearly against what is stated in the bylaws and in section 3.3.3 of the public nuisance act.
What course of action can we take as educating them on wildlife and consideration for others seems fruitless, though we are most certainly willing to try if you can advise on an angle to take?
The principle of the matter is that moving into the area, knowing Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve and CROW are just a road or two away, that the area is known for its stillness and beauty, why move in, cut down all the trees and start scaring off the wildlife?
They were all there and adored before this one family moved in.