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Author: Marillia Veldkornet

02 November 2018 No hiking or feeding of Wildlife allowed after fires in the Garden Route

Media Release – urgent notice
Issued by CapeNature

02 November 2018

Due to the recent fires in the Garden Route, CapeNature is requesting that communities living adjacent to the burnt areas support the recovery of wildlife by monitoring the condition of species and to report any injured animals to CapeNature as soon as possible. It would be very helpful if the following information can be provided to CapeNature when an injured animal is found:

– Exact locality of where the injured animal has been found/spotted (GPS position if possible)

– Correct species identification (as far as possible)

– Brief description of the injuries to the animal

– If possible photographic evidence or video footage should be taken so that the correct information is made available to the Official for the most appropriate treatment.

Do not approach an injured animal or put yourself in any danger, the public can rather contact the CapeNature George Regional Office (044) 802 5300 for any wild animals found or the Outeniqua Nature Reserve on 087 087 4151 if animals are found inside Outeniqua Nature Reserve.

No feeding of wild animals

The residential areas that border the Outeniqua mountains have experienced human-wildlife conflict for many years (especially with baboons) and therefore CapeNature is not supportive of placing out feeding stations as this will enhance conflict situations in the future.

A habitat assessment will be undertaken to determine the availability of remaining habitat for wildlife as soon as the Garden Route District Disaster Management has given clearance to CapeNature to enter the burnt areas. At this stage the area is still ‘a no go zone’ due to areas still smouldering and deep hot ash.

Wild animals will naturally move to alternative habitat if there is available habitat, by feeding wild animals you are firstly keeping them from a natural evacuation of the area and secondly make them dependent on feeding stations. As soon as the habitat assessment is completed, the situation will be reassessed.

Help by assessing and reporting – not feeding!

It is therefore advisable that the condition of wildlife be monitored rather than fed by the public. We should support wildlife by allowing corridors in order to allow them to move freely, driving carefully along public roads, and ensuring that our pets do not get the opportunity to chase wildlife that graze/browse closer to residential areas.

Please drive carefully, road verges also provide food for wildlife such as small antelope and primate species as these areas are often intact and are good for grazing/browsing and will be feeding close to the road.

Please stay out of natural areas – no hiking

We ask that the public refrain from accessing any natural areas in the George/Knysna region where there are still active or smouldering fire lines. These areas continue to have a high fire danger risk so please help us keep everyone safe!

Issued by CapeNature

Urgent Notification: Visitors travelling to the Garden Route and Klein Karoo region

GARDEN ROUTE WILDFIRES

Due to the recent wildfires in and around the Garden Route region, it is recommended that all visitors that are planning to travel to region delay their trip to the next week.  Severe weather conditions have been predicted for Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay today and tomorrow.

Smoke due to wildfires affects the visibility and air quality which adversely affect the tourism industry. Not all the fires in the Garden Route have been contained.

Please note the following:

  • Outeniqua pass has been reopened;
  • Montagu Pass remains closed until further notice; and
  • Robinson Pass has reopened following a felled tree near Ruiterbos.

Outeniqua pass currently have teams clearing debris from wildfires and wind. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution and be aware of possible falling of rocks and trees.

We would like to assure all tourists that are planning to travel to the Garden Route and Klein Karoo that once safety is guaranteed that updated communication will be shared.

Please follow all relating news feeds on our social media pages:

www.facebook.com/gardenroutedm

www.facebook.com/grandkk

For any assistance with the above matter, please contact:

Garden Route District Emergency Call centre at tel: 044 805 5071

or/

Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism office  at tel: 044 803 1427

Fly-by in Memory of WOF Firefighting Pilot – Nico Heyns

The family of late firebombing pilot Nico Heyns have announced that a fly-by will hosted in Sunday, 28 November, to celebrate his life.

At approximately 16:00 aircraft and helicopters will fly over his farm in Gouna, and proceed South and fly through the Knysna Heads and over town.

Members of the community are also welcome to place flowers outside the Fire Station in Knysna Town in Sunday in memory of Heyns, and those wishing to attend the celebration of Heyn’s life can attend the ceremony at the farm as from 14:30 also on Sunday.

Issued by:  Knysna-Plett Herald

Garden Route DM Outreach Programme benefits crèches in the George areas

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) educated 22 pre-primary learners (including caretakers) at Nonzame Educare Centre about proper hand wash techniques on 10 October 2018.

EHPs with the toddlers and caretakers from Nonzame Educare Centre, during the outreach.

This crèche, which is situated in Thembalethu, George, benefited from an ongoing joint initiative between the GRDM Municipal Health Services Section and the Western Cape Department of Health. The awareness programme has been up-and-running since 2016.

The goals of the programme are straightforward – to instill preventative habits, such as proper hand wash techniques and to prevent disease spreading into the minds of children.

EHPs Mr Gcobani Tshozi (left) and Ms Sive Mkuta (right) demonstrated to the toddlers and caretakers of the Nonzame Educare Centre how hands should be properly washed.

During the visits, EHPs also focus on topics such as food safety, the importance of washing hands, personal hygiene, water quality management and safety, waste management, as well as chemical safety.  These topics form part of the “Health surveillance of premises and health and hygiene awareness” key performance area of the Environmental Health Practitioner.

According to Ms Khanyisa Shoto, an EHP and coordinator of the initiative, children learn best through their senses and benefit from doing, seeing as well as hearing. Ms Shoto added: “Our teams work together with principals to explore the obstacles that childcare facilities face in terms of environmental health issues”.

The EHPs who also formed part of the initiative were Mr Gcobani Tshozi, Mr Lusizo Kwetshube, Ms Ivy Mamegwa, Ms Wandile Magwaza, Ms Jessica Erasmus, Ms Lana Don and Ms Sive Mkuta.

Tips on proper hand washing

Follow these steps:

  1. Wet your hands with running water — either warm or cold.
  2. Apply liquid, bar or powder soap to a cupped hand.
  3. Lather well.
  4. Rub your hands, palm to palm, vigorously for at least 20 seconds.
  5. Rub your thumbs and in between your fingers. Wash up to the elbows.
  6. Rinse well.
  7. Dry your hands with a clean towel.

It is important to dry hands thoroughly after washing because some bacteria remain on a person’s hands after washing, and these are more easily spread via wet hands than dry ones.