FLAMINGO RESCUE RUFFLES FEATHERS
WHILE international researchers are expected to arrive in Kimberley today to assist with the ongoing flamingo chick rescue operation at Kamfers Dam, tensions are starting to run high between bird experts and the local volunteers responsible for the rescue mission.
Flamingo rescue co-ordinator, Linja Allen, from NPO Saam Staan Kimberley, said yesterday that four researchers from the United States were expected to arrive in Kimberley today to study Kamfers Dam and its flamingos to plot the best way forward for the conservation of the birds.
They are members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and will be examining the sustainability and conservation needs of the flamingo population at Kamfers Dam.
Nearly 2 000 flamingo chicks were removed from the dam two weeks ago after they were found abandoned by their parents, as water levels at the dam dropped significantly.
The rescued chicks were transported to several rehabilitation centres across South Africa.
Birdlife South Africa CEO, Mark Anderson, while yesterday commending the individuals and agencies that participated in the rescue operation for the speed with which they reacted and “the efficiency of their efforts to save the precious young flamingos”, said that he was “becoming increasingly uneasy about perceptions around the incident”.
“Having been involved in monitoring waterbirds at Kamfers Dam for nearly three decades, including playing a central role in establishing this as one of only four unique sites in Africa (and now in the world) where the near-threatened lesser flamingo regularly breeds, I feel deeply gratified by all the outpouring of concern about these wonderful birds, sincerely expressed by people from all walks of life and all corners of the planet.
“However, as time has passed since the initial crisis was declared, I have become increasingly uneasy about perceptions around this incident that seem to be becoming entrenched in the media and the public psyche. As matters develop further around this incident and decisions are apparently being made about the way forward with which I strongly disagree, I feel that the time has come for me to try to set some fundamental issues straight,” Anderson said yesterday.
He went on to explain that the circumstances under which the flamingo chicks, which are currently being held in captivity, were rescued, “were not clear”.
“Why did the adult birds desert the apparently abandoned nests? Was the decision to step in and remove the abandoned chicks and eggs the right one? Who made this decision, under what authority and in terms of what expertise? Did the activity of the rescue parties working so closely to the flamingos still actively tending nests have a further, deleterious effect on the colony?” Anderson asked.
He added that, contrary to popular belief, “the lesser flamingo breeding colony at Kamfers Dam was demonstrably not in a state of emergency”.
“Birdlife South Africa has had observers at the site for the last week, and we are happy to report that the colony is still healthy, vibrant and productive. There are thousands of free-ranging chicks gambling around excitedly or huddling in crèches set up around the main breeding area, being watched over by a network of attendant adults and regularly fed by their parents. Similarly, the breeding event is still strongly under way. Thousands of adults are stoically incubating their eggs and the next wave of hatchings is surely imminent.”
Anderson went on to say that he had had received reports of parties and agencies, including delegates from zoos in other parts of the world, being gathered to convene at the dam and possibly develop and execute a plan to evacuate more chicks from the colony.
“If this is true, these steps are being taken completely without consultation with the in-country expertise on the colony, without the required permits from the provincial nature conservation authorities, and even without the stated permission of the relevant landowner. Also, such an action is clearly not what is needed to properly care for and protect the flamingos at the colony.
“What these birds need right now is to be watched carefully but otherwise left well alone to proceed with their breeding season as smoothly and naturally as possible.
“While there are still serious concerns about the dam continuing to dry up, there has recently been a significant fall of rain which resulted in the colony once again being surrounded by water, and there is hope for more rain soon as we enter the peak rainy season for the Kimberley area.
“In addition, a concerted effort is being made behind the scenes to solve the problems contributing to the lack of outflow of water from the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Works (which should be sufficient to maintain a relatively stable water level at the dam), and we remain hopeful that this can be achieved soon.
“For the moment, and until such time as conditions change significantly for the worse, the baby flamingos should be allowed to remain in the care of their mothers and fathers.”
Anderson concluded by saying that the events of the last two weeks had been been unfortunate and had opened the eyes of the Kamfers Dam collaborative to the need to have clear protocols in place for managing any such incidents in future.
“The situation has also catalysed us into taking decisive and overdue steps to fully secure the future of the site – to ensure the appropriate supply and management of water to the dam and develop the means to fully protect both the flamingos and their habitat in perpetuity,” Anderson said.
Allen said yesterday that discussions were held interdepartmentally between government officials and the SPCA before the green light was given to remove the chicks from the dam.
She added that permits were obtained from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) after the rescue mission was set in motion.
Strict permit conditions, as agreed to with GDARD, pertaining to the holding of the birds, as well as possible rehabilitation and release, were also being adhered to, Allen pointed out.
She further said that it was agreed upon during a meeting convened in Pretoria last week, attended by a multidisciplinary group of experts, that all the rescued chicks would be microchipped for easy identification, management and tracking purposes and as part of a record-keeping mechanism.
“DNA will also be collected from the chicks in order to identify the specific flock that they originated from and for future record maintenance purposes. This will prevent their sale on the black market and assist should there ever be a need within this flock again.”
Allen added that post-mortems would be conducted on all chicks that had died, so as to determine the cause of death.
She concluded by saying that the 18 chicks still being cared for at the Kimberley SPCA were “doing very well” and were medically “out of danger”. IT IS BELIEVED that additional charges, including kidnapping and assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, will be added to the attempted murder charge that prominent city businessman Louis Meades is facing, during his bail hearing later this week.
Meades allegedly tried to kill his girlfriend recently by running over her with his bakkie.
The alleged incident is believed to have taken place in an open piece of veld in Southridge on January 23 at approximately 7.30pm.
Following the postponing of the bail application in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court yesterday, defence attorney Jessie Clark made a special request to the court to keep Meades in the holding cells at the Phakamile Mabija Street police station due to the medication his client is receiving. Magistrate Dolly Mokoto then enquired about the medical condition Meades is suffering from.
“We need to know what medication he is receiving and the nature of his condition so as to determine whether it will be in be the best interest of justice to keep him in the Phakamile Mabija holding cells or to transfer him to a prison facility,” Mokoto said.
“By keeping him at the Phakamile Mabija holding cells we are in danger of setting a precedent. The Phakamile Mabija holding cells are just that – a holding cell where suspects who have just been arrested are kept in custody. Meades does not fall into this category.
“There have been many suspects who have abused this. I certainly hope Meades is not one of them.”
Clark then told the court that this was not the case.
“At this point, we do not want to disclose the nature of his condition or the medication he is receiving. We will do that during the bail application,” Clark said.
Meades will remain incarcerated at the police holding cells until his bail application is heard later this week.
However, before the bail application hearing can take place, Mokoto indicated that a decision needed to be made whether the charges against Meades should be treated as schedule one or schedule six offences, following the inclusion of additional charges.
It is believed that besides the attempted murder, kidnapping and assault charges, he may also be facing malicious injury to property and reckless/negligent driving.
It is further believed that the alleged victim has obtained a protection order against Meades.