Dept welcomes ‘co-ordinated’ flamingo rescue

THE NATIONAL Department of Environmental Affairs has advised that any disruption to the flamingo nests at Kamfers Dam and rescue operations should be done in a “co-ordinated manner” only after the necessary permits have been issued.

Thousands of chicks were abandoned by their parents after Kamfers Dam started drying up.

The spokesperson for the national Department of Environmental Affairs, Albi Modise, said yesterday that both provinces affected by the removal of the birds from their natural habitats and those where the birds would be rehabilitated, would require the necessary permits.

He said the national department supported the current co-ordinated rescue, involving specialists from various organisations and private individuals to assist the rescue of lesser flamingo chicks at Kamfers Dam.

“It is important that the co-ordinated rescue and release of the birds back into the wild is led by experts that are familiar with the species in captivity as well as the behaviour of the birds in the wild.”

The lesser flamingo is classified as a threatened species.

Modise added that while the birds started breeding on the artificial breeding site at Kamfers Dam in 2008, it had yet to be determined whether this would become a regular breeding site.

“The lesser flamingo is totally dependent on a habitat of shallow saline or alkaline lakes, pans, wetlands and coastal areas as it eats a specialised diet of microscopic alkaline cyanobacteria ‘blue-green algae’.”

He stated that degradation of its specialised habitat, water quality, extraction of salt and soda ash as well as the disruption of its few breeding colonies by human activities posed a threat to the survival of the birds.

“The Department of Environmental Affairs will, in co-operation with other government departments, ensure that the habitats for these birds are not destroyed by human action.”