Cato Ridge gets an animal haven
DINGO’S Animal Kingdom in Cato Ridge intends to plant 500 trees on its 20-hectare stretch of land and has ambitions to create a breeding programme for endangered species.
Dingo’s is inviting the public to take part in its tree-planting day on October 2. The land was purchased by wildlife crusader Dingo Dinkelman in 2019. His team has been working steadily to prepare the land for its future inhabitants, with local and international experts. It is to become a safe haven for animals.
Dinkelman aims to initiate vital breeding programmes as a way to provide “insurance colonies” for endangered species. The haven would set the benchmark on the continent for caring for wildlife, and create a unique platform for people and animals to connect.
“The reality is that, for our natural world to stand a chance, we have to work together to protect it and discover how to co-inhabit in these spaces,” said Dinkelman.
He said it took 15 years of searching to find the land, and many hours were spent on erecting fencing and removing thousands of invasive alien plants.
Dinkelman and his crusaders said they needed the help of the community. “We want people to feel at home here, forming a real, valuable connection with nature."
He and his team have already planted fig trees, acacias, fever trees and other indigenous plants. He said ground had been prepared for the planting day, and members of the community needed to bring a spade, a bucket and enthusiasm for nature.
Dinkelman said through collaboration with other conservation institutions, the haven would become a base for informative demonstrations and school shows. It would provide up-to-date training in conservation and offer invaluable research into protected species. “Every tree planted gets us one step closer to our goal.”
Dingo’s Animal Kingdom comes to life following the disturbing findings of the World Wide Fund for Nature 2020 Living Planet Index, that showed an average 68% decline in global vertebrate species populations in less than half a century.
Last month, increasing biodiversity loss came under the spotlight at the World Wide Fund For Nature Living Planet Conference.