Cape Leopard under threat!

A snared leopard that was found on the Lourensford Wine Estate has presented an opportunity for co-operative management between conservation authorities, research professionals and private land owners in order to protect Cape Town’s leopard population.

US Secret service finds fugitive in Cape Town!

A fugitive from the United States of America (USA), who was hiding in South Africa, was last week sentenced to 72 months imprisonment with three supervised probation sentences.

The fugitive, Mr Eyal Dulin, was arrested in Cape Town in April this year during a joint operation between the US Secret Service and the City of Cape Town’s Metro Police Department.

Members of the Metro Police K9 Unit assisted with the arrest, which took place in Strandfontein.

This week the US Secret Service commended the City’s Metro Police for their assistance in securing the perimeters of the location where Mr Dulin was hiding as well as with his apprehension and transportation.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman J.P. Smith, congratulated the Metro Police for their assistance in the apprehension of Mr Dulin.

“This case is a good example of the effectiveness and importance of having a good working relationship and level of cooperation between the City’s law enforcement teams and international bodies,” said Ald. Smith.

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Cape Town Trail Challenge

The Mountain and Trail Enthusiasts (MATES), in partnership with the Friends of Blaauwberg Conservation Area (BCA), will hold the second ‘BCA Mates Trail Challenge’ in the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve on Saturday 13 October 2012. After the success of the first event in October 2011, great interest is expected in this year’s event.

There are a number of race events in and around the Table Mountain area and the Winelands, but this trail challenge is the only one that offers the opportunity to run through the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve. With views of Table Mountain, Robben Island and Table Bay, participants can run either the 15km or the 8km route. The routes will run over the two hills, Bloubergkoppie and Kleinberg, and through the colourful spring vegetation within the nature reserve.

The race is organised in conjunction with the Friends of BCA, which is a non-profit organisation made up of volunteers supporting the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve. The proceeds of the race will go towards promoting the conservation of the reserve. Registration will start at 06:00, with the longer 15km race starting at 07:30. The 8km race will start immediately afterwards, at 07:45. There are a limited number of entries so pre-registration is encouraged. Participants can register using the form on the website and payment can be made via bank transfer. The entry fee has been kept as low as possible, and is R100,00 for the 15km trail and R50,00 for the 8km trail. For further details, please visit the MATES website: http://capetrailrunning.co.za/trailchallenge.html

Being a trail run, unlike a road race, there will be no marshals along the way. A medic will be on duty at the start/finish and a sweep will run with the last people on the trail. There will only be one water point. Participants should bring a windbreaker and a water bottle. As this is a green event, car-pooling is strongly encouraged. No littering is allowed: only footprints should be left behind. “MATES is a non-profit running club that’s more accessible to us as primarily trail runners. Many trail runners also enter the road races, especially the ultra-distance races, and thus need to be a member of the Western Province Athletics Association. However, none of the existing Cape Town clubs are primarily focused on trail running, and we’d like to support this aspect of athletics. We recognise the achievements of our runners in all disciplines of running, i.e. trail, road, multi-sport, etc. and we want to encourage the appreciation of our beautiful environment by promoting exercise on the mountain.

 

The club also aims to teach hikers and runners how to respect the natural environment and act safely when on the trails. Lastly, weaim to support the development of athletes from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, striving to keep trail running affordable and accessible to all,” said the Secretary of MATES Running, Meindert Hoving. Chairman of the Friends of BCA, Roy Fuller-Gee, says: “After the success and enjoyment of the 2011 Challenge, we are looking forward to seeing both past runners and some new ones taking on the scenic route through the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve. Whilst some runners come to win, others take the opportunity to admire the breath-taking views from the top of our koppies. We just enjoy showcasing our reserve.” The Blaauwberg Nature Reserve is only 25 km from the centre of Cape Town and is regarded as a global biodiversity hot spot.

It is approximately 2 000 hectares in size and has a rich mosaic of natural, cultural and historical elements. Being so close to Cape Town also means that the area has the potential to become an open-air classroom that is easily accessible to millions of people within its proximity. The race is sure to be a wonderful way of exploring this beautiful area. More information about the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve can be found at http://www.bca.org.za/. For more information on the City’s nature reserves, please visit http://www.capetown.gov.za/naturereserves

 

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Sights and sensations of Cape Town

To all our local followers, be sure to witness yet another stunning Cape Town sight.

The City of Cape Town is once again partnering with the Western Cape Bonsai Fraternity to host a bonsai exhibition at the Company’s Garden, as part of its Arbour Month celebrations.

The exhibition seeks to raise awareness about the importance of trees and bonsai as an art form.

There will be a guided walkabout at approximately 10:50, followed by workshops and demonstrations. Vendors will ensure that anyone who would like to grow their own bonsai trees can purchase the necessary materials.

Residents who already have bonsais are invited to bring them along to gain expert advice and opinions on styling and cultivation. It is not often that such a concentrated wealth of bonsai knowledge is available to the public.

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Giant German catfish turns cannibal

German rivers water, home to the largest Cat fish in the world, easily matching up to the monstrous size of 2.5 m are becoming an increasing problem in German rivers and lakes, eating their own species amongst other larger aquatic animals in rivers now empty of all other fish.

The cannibals have gone on a rampage, as Ducks and even swans on the Isen River in Upper Bavaria have to fear for their lives, because they are being targeted by the giant fish.

Fishermen have been alarmed by the increasing number – and size – of the catfish, which have no natural predators and grow their entire lives.

“The fish are not actually known to eat members of their own species, but by now they are also doing this,” said Manfred Holzner, head of the local fisherman’s association.

Controlling their population is difficult – the fish themselves are notoriously tricky to catch, and nets are generally outlawed in the affected waters. But with the ongoing situation, powers that be could seek to new measures of containment.

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City Ensures moving of Ship Wreck!

As a direct result of continuous engagement and pressure from the City of Cape Town, the National Department of Transport has submitted a request to National Treasury to seek funding estimated in the amount of R40 million, based on the calculations conducted last year, to salvage the wreckage of the SELI 1. The Turkish Vessel ran aground along the coast of Table Bay in 2009.

The City of Cape Town has repeatedly engaged with the Department of Transport and the Department of Environmental Affairs with a view to finding a permanent resolution. “It is unfortunate that these parties did not engage with the City sooner when we requested them to attend a meeting with other relevant stakeholders in early February of this year; and that the issue of the necessary funding for the salvage operation is taking so long to settle”, said Alderman J.P Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.

Damage done by the spill

“The proactive salvage effort that was suggested by the City and SAMSA at that stage would almost certainly have prevented the oil spill that occurred over the weekend,” added Alderman Smith.

The matter will serve before Cabinet during September 2012 and approval is now being awaited. The City is currently ascertaining from the Department of Transport what progress has been made since the last engagement in respect of investigating options for the wreck reduction.

The City’s position remains that the wreck must be removed in the interests of public safety and the environment. Over 54 endangered African penguins were contaminated by oil as a result of the weekend’s oil spill. SANCCOB has advised the City that the birds are currently undergoing intensive rehabilitation before they can be released back into the wild.

Broken Seli 1

The on-going pollution from the vessel is a major concern for SANCCOB given that the Table Bay area is one of the main feeding grounds for the African penguin and other seabirds breeding on Robben Island, Dassen Island and the West Coast.

“We eagerly await a response to the request from the National Department of Transport by the National Treasury on the availability of the funding, which will allow us to consider our options thereafter,” Smith said.  “We must ensure the removal of the wreck as soon as possible to reduce further oil risk, the erosion of the coastline adjacent to the wreck and the visual and environmental impact.”

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Car chase in Kuils River leads to Cops finding 82 parcels of Dagga

City of Cape Town Metro Police Officers arrested 45 suspects and issued 47 fines during operations across Cape Town this weekend.

On Sunday 26 August 2012, members of the Metro Police K9 Unit were conducting patrols on the R300 before the Van Riebeeck Road turn-off in Kuils River when they noticed a white light delivery vehicle