Mossel Bay Advertiser - Gondwana Game Reserve

Unusual cooperation between industry and conservation helps
Mossel Bay’s wildlife
A student working for a local environmental partnership identifies a
problem amongst the game animals in a refinery’s veld area, so a
private game reserve steps in to help...
Kelly-Jane Peo - a 3rd year student in game ranch management at
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University – is currently employed as
an intern at the Oyster Bay Reserve, a community-based project of
the Mossel Bay Environmental Partnership (MEP). Her work
includes the management of the game in the veld areas that surround
the nearby PetroSA refinery, as part of the game management
section of her practical.
“In terms of our internship agreement with PetroSA, Kelly has been
doing research into the carrying capacity, veld conditions and the
condition of the game at PetroSA as part of her practical training,”
said MEP chairperson, Beverley Boer.
“She found that the carrying capacity has been exceeded, and that
few animals are starting to inbreed, which is weakening their gene
pools, and needs attention as soon as possible, before the condition
deteriorates.
“At the same time, one of our past interns - Chris-Mari Dorfling,
who now works at Gondwana Game Reserve – found that
Gondwana needed springbok.
“So a game swap was proposed, and with the blessing of the
PetroSA and Gondwana management teams, some of Gondwana’s
zebra will now be swapped/exchanged for some of PetroSA’s
springbok.”
“None of this could have happened if Kelly-Jane and I hadn’t
worked together earlier this year at PetroSA, and if I hadn’t come to
Gondwana knowing the situation at PetroSA,” said Ms. Dorfling.
Ms. Boer said that Ms. Peo and Ms. Dorfling – working with John
Vogel, Ms. Dorfling’s mentor at Gondwana – are currently busy
attending to compliance with CapeNature’s permit conditions.
“They have to get approval for the transport we’ll be using, and to
make sure there’s adequate fencing at PetroSA, and so on – but the
game exchange will probably begin next week, weather permitting.”
Ms. Peo said that, for her, the most challenging part of the project
has been getting the correct permits from CapeNature, and also
planning the operation with so many parties involved. “But Natalie
Baker, Conservation Services Officer at Cape Nature helped us with
this – and I really want to thank her for that. All in all, it makes it ten
times more difficult, but I enjoy the challenges together with it. The
learning process has been an invaluable experience so far.
“The long term goal for this project is to improve the veld condition
on the reserve at PetroSA, and also to establish viable populations
and breeding herds for all the animals.
“The intention is also to build up good relationships between
Gondwana, PetroSA, and the Oyster Bay Reserve, to ensure future
game exchange opportunities if they’re needed, and also to provide
further research opportunities for students like the people who will
take over my projects when my internship is finished,” she said.
Ms. Boer said that PetroSA’s executives have provisionally accepted
a game management plan proposed by MEP.
Russel Mamabolo, regional manager of corporate affairs at PetroSA,
said that, “PetroSA is excited about the animal exchange
programme, as this will assist with the effective game management
at the nature reserve.
“It should be noted that the nature reserve is an indication that
PetroSA can co-exist with an environmentally sensitive facility.
“As a company, PetroSA is committed to ensuring that its operations
minimise any possible harmful impact on the environment.”
Fred Orban, a founder member of MEP and a member of the board
of directors of Mossel Bay Tourism, said that the game
swap/exchange – and the management agreement that has resulted
from the project – auger well for the future of wildlife in Mossel
Bay.
But, he said, there are economic considerations here, too.
“As an industry, tourism could transform the economy of Mossel
Bay - but it will only be able to do so if the environment is protected,
since the environment is the town’s main attraction.
“So while the PetroSA/Gondwana game swap/exchange is
scientifically sound and displays good management practice, it’s
also a symbolic gesture which shows that industry in Mossel Bay is
serious about conservation.
“And that’s very good news for everyone.”