Exercising the dog is a walk in the park with colour coding

SANParks is meeting dog owners halfway concerning walking dogs in the Garden Route National Park. New areas for walking dogs on the beach in Wilderness were rezoned, using input from extensive research and surveys.

These zones are now simplified in a guideline (brochure and visible signage) published by the park for walking dogs in designated areas. Signage will be erected by the end of this week, with rezoned areas and brochures distributed first in Wilderness.

“These zones are currently applicable in the Wilderness Beach, but the colour-coded system will be rolled out to Sedgefield as well in phases,” according to main Marine Ranger for Wilderness Jonathan Britton.

The simplified version of the guideline is colour-coded:

• Green zones: These are dog-friendly beaches, dogs still need to be under the command of their humans and dog poo must picked up and binned. This is not a free-for-all zone, but the Code of Conduct for dog walking still applies.

• Yellow zones: Dogs are only permitted on leashes. There has been a significant drop nationally in the population numbers of white fronted plovers. The yellow zone was introduced after a survey found some breeding pairs, as well as likely habitat, around the popular entry points for dog walking. Dogs walking on a leash towards a green, dog-friendly beach was the best comprise.

• Red zone: No dogs are permitted as these are either known important bird breeding areas or recreational beaches where beachgoers who prefer not to share their beach time with dogs have a place to visit as well.

“We believe that these zones strike a balance between protecting coastal bird breeding and habitat areas, dog walking and other recreational users,” said Britton. Why dogs are not allowed in other areas of the park

This is primarily to protect dogs from wild animals, as dogs may become prey to predators or get attacked by other wild animals like baboons.

Dogs in the park may harass or kill plants and animals protected by the park. They may also disturb birds during breeding seasons.

Dogs tend to enjoy digging up plants, including indigenous plants necessary for the survival of the ecosystem.

They also spread diseases. "Domestic dogs and cats may carry certain pathogens that pose a serious disease risk to wild canids, felids, viverids and mustelids." Dogs threaten birds like the African Oystercatcher

Adults and chicks become separated and nests and youngsters become vulnerable to trampling and predation by gulls, dogs and man.

Their nest is often a shallow scrape in the sand on exposed beaches and vulnerable to roving and excitable dogs.

Incubation of eggs is about 29 days and youngsters take about 45 days to become independent. Breeding success rate is 20-40%.

Black Oystercatchers are threatened by disturbance and coastal development. Nandi Mgwadlamba SANParks