WESTERN CAPE FIRES FUEL WILDLIFE CRISIS

LionExpose
Jan 15
3 min read

100,000 Hectares Devastated and Counting

Please read through this story, it contains important information and you can help.

A Farmer’s Account: Living Through the Fires

A farmer recounts the last fires...

“Watching the first trails of smoke while looking at the sky brought a sense of dread when I recognised its direction. Having lived through one of the worst fires in the region I remember days and nights without sleep. The aftermath, walking through smouldering, blackened earth. Animals frozen into black statues, so many snakes, their mouths gaping, countless small remains. Tortoises burnt, some still alive. The fierce heat and the roar of flames that tore through the fynbos, a wall of terror. These memories never leave. Exhausted firefighters that rallied on. The animals that appeared on our farm were astonishing. You rarely saw them up close but Buks gathered to sleep, drink, and feed with our livestock. Deep kloof baboons, never seen by us before, allowed us close while laying out fruits. All were exhausted, terrified.

This is the real devastation.

The loss for animals, neighbours and workers was immense.”

A Fire Season Out of Control

This year’s fire season is severe and hard to keep up with. Areas have been turned into raging infernos, destroying pristine natural habitat. The Western Cape is home to an incredible variety of wildlife and flora, seen nowhere else on earth.A rich, important biodiverse landscape, usually teeming with unseen life.

The pristine Swartberg Mountains near Oudtshoorn in the Karoo are also burning.

The scale is unimaginable. Farmers, rescuers, conservationists, firefighters, vets and communities will feel the losses for months.

Impact on Wildlife

Animals, both small and large, have been burned alive, displaced, exhausted, and many severely injured.

Public Appeal: Watch for Wildlife

Everyone on the roads in these areas please look out for wildlife, especially small and slow animals. They will be crossing to escape, to find water and food. If you live in rural areas, please put out water at safe distances.

Urgent Call for Support

As locals, we are time-sensitive to the immediate needs and hope this story reaches as many social networks as possible. Anyone who can help, including those wishing to donate, should use official fundraising platforms of local organisations.

Firefighting Resources Under Pressure

To date, the Western Cape has authorised 38 aerial firefighting missions this season. Provincial Disaster Management Centre reports that R15 million has been spent on aerial firefighting support up to 13 January. Firefighting teams, volunteers, farmers, and rescuers are stretched to their limits.

CRITICAL WILDLIFE SUPPORT

Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Centre

The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Centre is the Western Cape’s first “all species” wildlife rehabilitation centre, situated in Betty’s Bay. Wildlife treated here is rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Wild Animals and a lot of babies whose parents have died are in need of your support. A Vulture that was rescued suffering from smoke inhalation and shock is currently being cared for and will be released close to his home turf after recovery.

Kogelberg Rescue has 300 trained “First Responders”. If you see a wild animal and are inexperienced, DO NOT disturb or make a noise or frighten it. Touching traumatised wildlife can kill them. Take a photo and send the location via WhatsApp, along with your full name and details, to the number listed below. Donations and supplies, bandages, fire ointments are needed.

Local veterinarians are usually helpful with advice.

Volunteer Firefighting and Emergency Networks

Volunteer firefighting and rescue services such as DFW – NPC in the Drakenstein Municipal area operate a complex emergency radio network connected to all other emergency services.