Words from the Warden July 2014

Transcription

1 Words from the Warden July 2014 by Johan Grobler Cell: Website: Dam walls in the Swartspruit The project to demolish the old dam walls in the Swartspruit was initiated more than two years ago by our previous warden. A number of people were involved, including Dr. Freek Venter (SANparks), Jacques Venter (River Technician SANparks), Billy Cloete (CSIR) one of the best explosive design experts, Col. Shane Mills (SANDF) explosive expert, Mornay Westraadt (SANDF) explosive expert and instructor, various SANDF students and two members of the SANDF medic corps. Gabi (20) and Bev (100) made boerewors rolls and sandwiches on 2 nd and 3 rd July for the whole team. Theunis (45) made his facilities available to prepare the food. Blackie (81) manned the bakkie sakkie (fire water tank) in case of fire and acted as spotter. Traffic was re-directed from the ONGR gate by Hendrik (Field Ranger) and from the Zebra Lane crossing by a Black Mamba. Another Black Mamba was stationed at the house on Plot 79 which was closest to the blasting site. Bart Willemse and Arno Kruger from Eskom switched the control gear on the ONGR line off to ensure that it would trip immediately should a fault occur. The SANDF chose to use cordtex with a burning speed of approx. 2km per second, and not an electric detonator, to ignite the explosive on the first wall. Usually two units in SANDF use explosives, the engineering and the special forces. The engineers destroy a bridge or weapon taking the time to demolish the entire structure. The special forces or recces work in teams of two

2 guys with backpacks containing explosives and they blow away a section to make the target unusable. They are limited by the explosives they can carry. Billy Cloete from the CSIR is an explosives developer and was present on both days to monitor the effectiveness of the different explosives. A warm thank you goes to all the persons I mentioned above as well as to Andre van Rooyen of Plot 79 and his tenants, Theuns and Maryna, Gert Lubbe and Loyd Grobler for their patience, as they were directly affected by the blasting due to their proximity. Many thanks for the understanding of all owners who were affected by the noise from the blasting. Mornay and Billy decided to use a very small load at first and then doubled it. This still did not have the desired effect, so they chose a blade type explosive device. The project was an excellent learning experience for the students as they had never before attempted to demolish a boxed brick wall filled with reinforced concrete. After discussions with the team, larger charges were used. This gave the students a good understanding of the different explosive types and their effects. Constantly the Eskom power line was monitored during the blasts for any swinging of cables and we monitored the house at Plot 78 closely for any potential damage. For every blast all members of the team moved about 50m away to ensure a visual of the blast we did not need earplugs. The wild animals did not have any noticeable reaction and impalas and wildebeest continued walking around at a safe distance. Warthogs were drinking at Plot 78 and a breeding herd of elephants passed nearby. I do however know that the dogs in the vicinity were upset. The maximum safe charge was used for the rest of the day. On the second day the team started off with the same charge but used electrical detonation as the second wall was further away from the Eskom line. No lines were damaged and the electricity was not cut. Jacques and I took photographs and will compare these with the site in a year s time to establish how the Swartspruit has recovered. Grietjie was very lucky not to have to pay for this demolition as we have heard that one of private reserves in the area had to foot the bill for a similar blasting. Poaching and Anti-poaching On Monday 7 th we tracked three poachers who fled across the Olifants River onto GPNR. One of them was barefoot. They crossed the river between 117 and the railway bridge and the tracks show us that they were picked up on the tar road on the farm Paul. It is very frustrating for all of us involved to see this happening and to not apprehend the poachers. Anti-poaching and security is often a one-way street we put a lot of energy, manpower, time and money into this and we get little reward in return. My biggest reward thus far is that all the inhabitants of Grietjie remain safe. I sincerely hope we can keep it that way with the help of all landowners, residents and staff to identify any potential problems and by continuing our efforts and remaining extremely vigilant. There have been some anti-poaching successes in the area 9 rhino poachers were arrested on Makalali and surrounding areas. A.375 rifle with six rounds was recovered. The trend now is to remove the rhino knees as well. The first case is now in court and we are awaiting the verdict. I am hoping that this sentence will be as severe as that for rhino horn. The Black Mambas are doing daily fence patrols to ensure that we can follow-up any incursions promptly. Roads We have started laying concrete blocks on Maggies Hill as part of the second phase of the project. Nelson, our Field Ranger, is doing the hard work with the help of casual labour. The builder we used last year for phase one is banned from Grietjie after I received information that he was possibly interested in poaching on GPNR. Money is a great temptation!

3 Many trees were removed from the roads on the reserve as a result of the high elephant numbers present this month. Darisandi road needs urgent repairs especially as ONGR is partially paying for the upkeep. Equipment will be hired from ONGR. The low point of the drainage line at 74/75 also needs to be attended to. Problem and injured animals Frikkie from Struwig reported a buffalo bull with unusually large testicles. A few days later the bull was sighted on Grietjie. Robert and Trevor (105) took detailed photographs which showed extensive wounds in the genital area. After I euthanized the buffalo, Cornell took tissue samples for testing. It seems that the buffalo had been attacked by a predator, possibly a lion. A dead bushbuck was reported by Brian (11). The train collided with three buffalo on Doreen. Two died and one had to be put out of its misery. I removed the carcasses from the vicinity of the railway line. A lion killed a waterbuck on the Try fence and the fence was damaged in the struggle. A zebra with an injured tail was found dead. Vehicle The bakkie had three punctures this month and the window on the driver side fell down again. The workshop manager was neither very friendly nor happy to see me again but did fix it without charging. A plastic bracket attached to the glass broke how flimsy can you get? He fitted an oversized washer and said that if the bracket broke again the entire window would be replaced. I sincerely feel they should replace the window free of charge. The speedometer is now reading 20248km. Off-takes and hunting I started with the impala off-takes this month. To date 14 impalas and two warthogs have been taken off. A few landowners are looking for proof that Grietjie falls under the Veterinary Foot and Mouth Act. (This means that meat must be deboned before removal from the reserve). Please find below an extract: Annexure 1 Foot and mouth disease (FMD) controlled areas (Table 1 of the Animal Diseases Regulations) (a) Kruger National Park Foot and mouth disease infected zone: The whole area of the Kruger National Park and adjacent management areas. (b) Limpopo Province Foot and mouth disease infected zone: (i) That portion of the Local Municipality of Musina in the Vhembe District Municipality including the following farms: Vrouwensbrom 80 MT, Popallin 87 MT, Nyathi Ranch 94 MT and Bali 84 MT excluding the portion 2 of Bali 84 MT. (ii) That portion of the Local Municipality of Mutale in the Vhembe District Municipality including the Matshakatini area north of the animal disease control fence and including the Makuleke Private Nature Reserve. (iii) That portion of the Local Municipality of Mutale in the Vhembe District Municipality including the Makuya Park. (iv) That portion of the Local Municipality of Greater Giyani in the Mopani District Municipality including the Mbaula Ranch. (v) That portion of the Local Municipality of Ba-Phalaborwa in the Mopani District Municipality including the Letaba Ranch, consisting of the following farms: Letaba Ranch 17 LU, Belasting 7 LU (parts of portion 0, 1 and 2 and the whole portion 3), Leeuwkop 10 LU, Baderoukwe 11 LU, N Dole 12 LU, Sable 13 LU, Pompey 16 LU, Genoeg 15 LU, Silonque 23 LU, Schiettocht 25 LU, Laaste 24 LU, Wegsteek 30 LU, Loole 31 LU, Merensky 32 LU, Schalk 3 KU, Paul 7 KU, Rhoda 9 KU, Sheila 10 KU, Punt 151 KT, Morelag 5 KU, Grietjie 6 KU and Doreen 8 KU.

4 (iii). From infected zones: FOR MOVEMENT OF GAME MEAT FROM THE INFECTED AND PROTECTION ZONES TO THE FREE ZONE FOR TRADE PURPOSES, REFER TO THE RESPECTIVE VPN. Wind-dry biltong and dry sausages, free of lymph nodes and large blood vessels and prepared with vinegar, well-cooked boned or deboned venison, and deboned fresh venison from carcasses, after hanging for at least 24 hours, originating directly from farms, may be moved from the infected zones to any destination for own consumption (ordinary permit). Wind-dry biltong and dry sausages, free of lymph nodes and large blood vessels and prepared with vinegar, well-cooked boned or deboned venison, and deboned fresh venison from carcasses, after hanging for at least 24 hours, purchased from approved butcheries, may be moved from the infected zones to any destination for own consumption without a permit, if accompanied by a specific and valid invoice. Products which have been processed at Skukuza Abattoir, may be moved to any destination (ordinary permit). Fresh venison may not be moved from approved butcheries in the infected zones to wholesalers or to other butcheries, in order to facilitate traceability. Game skins and trophies, which have been treated by one of the following applicable methods under official supervision, may be moved from the infected zones to any destination (ordinary permit): o boiling in water for an appropriate time so as to ensure that any matter other than bone, horns, hooves, claws, antlers or teeth is removed; o gamma irradiation at a dose of at least 20 kilogray at room temperature (20 C or higher); o soaking, with agitation, in a 4% (w/v) solution of washing soda (sodium carbonate - Na 2 CO 3 ) maintained at ph 11.5 or above for at least 48 hours; o soaking, with agitation, in a formic acid solution (100 kg salt (NaCl) and 12 kg formic acid per 1,000 litres water), maintained at below ph 3.0 for at least 48 hours; wetting and dressing agents may be added; o in the case of raw hides, salting for at least 28 days with sea salt containing 2% washing soda (sodium carbonate - Na 2 CO 3 ). Grietjie must abide by these rules and only deboned fresh meat will be allowed to leave Grietjie if accompanied by a valid original permit (no copies) obtainable from the veterinarian at the Hoedspruit Dept of Agriculture Office. Gate I took the fire extinguishers to be serviced by Fire and General in town. There are still owners dumping rubbish bags in the glass and tin recycle containers at the gate. Please note these bins are for recycling of glass and drinking cans and NOT for rubbish. I may have to set up a camera to monitor the area and to identify the culprits.

5 Fire A fire training course was held at #39. I attended the course together with four of our Black Mambas, our Field Rangers, Hans Schmid, Peter Meier, Mel & Ian Owtram, some people from Parsons and 6 Grietjie staff members. We may have to spend some extra money on fire-fighting equipment such as rakes/hoes, fire beaters and back-pack hand sprayers. I was called out to a fire on Saturday 19 th but it was on the other side of the R40. On Sunday Karin from Olifants South reported smoke from number 3. I rushed there with my staff only to find the owner and workers burning grass. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO BURN RUBBISH PLEASE LET ME KNOW TO AVOID WASTING VALUABLE TIME which can be spent on real emergencies! Remember there are restrictions to lighting fires in the Greater Kruger Park Area as from 1 August 2014 until further notice later this year. This means that no fires may be lit without a permit, except for cooking or braai purposes, and these must made in designated places. (National Veld and Forest Fire Act 101 of 1998 and the National Environmental Management NEMA Protected Areas Act 57/2003 are very clear on the penalties i.e. fines and/or imprisonment. Fire training for all staff is compulsory according to the Act Section 17. Every owner on whose land a veldfire may start or burn or from whose land it may spread must (a) Have such equipment, protective clothing and trained personnel for the extinguishing of fires as are a. Prescribed; or b. In the absence of prescribed requirements, reasonably required in the circumstances; The penalty for non-compliance is mentioned in Section 25. (4) Training is required for all levels, labourer, team-leader, supervisor, foreman, manager.