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www.thevillagenews.co.za
2 December 2020
LET'S TALK Healthy and robust debate are crucial for democracy. The Village NEWS firmly believes in freedom of the press as well as the right of individuals to freely express themselves, as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Village NEWS. Letters may be shortened and/or edited for clarity and style. Enjoy our paper. Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za.
Notice to holidaymakers: Think baboons The Overstrand is world-famous for its rolling mountains and abutting coastline, all perfectly packaged in a beautiful burst of fynbos known as the Cape Floral Kingdom. Whether you are a guest or a full-time resident, these natural surroundings come with blessings and responsibility.
residents and visitors to make other arrangements regarding garbage disposal on Sundays if so required. It is suggested that an arrangement be made with your neighbours or other permanent residents to make the bins and bags available on the scheduled days for removal.
Never (ever, ever) feed baboons. They do not need your food We are privileged to share our space with the hundreds of species of fynbos and wildlife, including dassies (Rock Hyrax), Southern Right whales, bird species galore and of course, the Chacma baboons. Baboons are intelligent and extremely resourceful and have unfortunately learnt that human food is delicious and easy to find.
If you are letting your property over weekends and the holiday season, please be sure to bring all arrangements regarding the treatment of household waste to your tenants’ attention.
Living in the Kogelberg Biosphere and along the Klein River mountain range requires residents to be aware of the wildlife that share our space and to adapt our lifestyles accordingly where we can. The only way humans and baboons can harmoniously share a living space is if we adapt our behaviour Dealing responsibly with waste is one of the simple ways we can contribute to the health and well-being of our wildlife and our own families. Baboon-proofing and waste management If black bags are left outside and it is not the day for the municipality to pick them up, baboons, birds, dogs and cats rip open rubbish bags and litter is strewn around. This litter can be blown into the sea where it has negative impacts on marine life. Ensure that collectables are on the sidewalk by no later than 07:00 on the morning of collection. No refuse bags may be left on pavements overnight. Please remember to not place excess rubbish bags next to the municipal bins. Any excessive refuse must be taken to the transfer stations. In addition, the Municipality requests
For the safety of our waste collection staff, residents are kindly requested to (as far as practically possible) package or wrap any glass items to be disposed of before placing them in the waste bin or black bag. Wherever possible glass items should rather be recycled or disposed of at the public drop-offs and transfer stations. Be a part of the solution Remember, it is illegal to feed baboons and you can receive a fine if you give them access to food; even if it is food you do not want anymore. Always keep your food hidden away and out of sight – remember that baboons are clever and inquisitive, so please store your food properly. All households in baboon problem areas must have an animal-proof bin for domestic waste. Baboon-resistant 240-litre Wheelie bins with locks can be purchased at the municipal offices and will be delivered to your home. Alternatively, bins can be bought at any hardware store and baboon proof locks can be fitted, at an additional charge, on your existing bin. Baboon Hotline The dedicated BABOON HOTLINE NUMBER for reporting baboons in Hermanus and Pringle Bay is 072 028 0008. Residents within these areas are encouraged to phone the hotline number to report any baboon sightings and request assistance from
Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS), the service provider for the Overstrand Municipality’s Baboon Management Programme. At this stage reaction and assistance from HWS is not possible in areas other than Hermanus and Pringle Bay. However, if residents from other areas would like to report baboon sightings, it will assist the municipality to capture information on the movement patterns of the troops so that a better understanding can be gained of their activities in the areas. Enjoy peace of mind: Pro-active measures and responses to possible baboon encounters • Join your neighbourhood WhatsApp group for Baboon Alerts • If renting your house, advise tenants how to manage the situation, particularly if they have children or pets. • Know your refuse day and take responsibility for securing your bin. • Always set your house alarm as you leave. Close all windows. • Young baboons can access a gap of 5cm or larger; burglar bars with a narrow gap are effective. • Baboons can open sliding doors and pull down door handles. They do not know how to turn round doorknobs. • Appoint a close neighbour or friend in town to be key holder. • If baboons enter your house, make way so they exit unhindered. • Always treat baboons with caution; do not corner them as they may become aggressive when they feel threatened. • If baboons do gain access to your house, keep pets away until all baboons have left. • Never threaten baboons or take food items from them. • Teach children to drop food items and move away, if approached by a baboon. • Avoid leaving domestic pets outside for extended periods when you are out. • Security beams in the garden
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provide early warnings. Keep fruit bowls and food items out of sight, away from windows. Pick ripe fruit from fruiting trees daily. Vegetable gardens, bird feeders, dog food bowls and uncovered compost heaps attract baboons. Do not put bird seed, fruit or nectar feeders out in your garden. This is one of the biggest attractions for the baboons.
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Let the baboons know that you do not want them in your home, shout at them, act confidently and always ensure the baboon has a clear escape route. Baboons will keep returning if they find rewards. Encourage everyone in your community to use the correct bins. Your continued co-operation is needed to minimise the baboon problem.
Calling all Cliff Path lovers
Can you help to maintain our much-loved Hermanus Cliff Path? The stretch of coast through which the path runs is part of Fernkloof Nature Reserve, so the natural vegetation along the path is very precious. But, as elsewhere in our area, invasive alien plants pose a serious threat. Many are garden plants that have ‘escaped’ from nearby gardens or have been planted by well-meaning but uninformed gardeners. Examples of the most invasive aliens of this sort are nasturtiums, statice, lavetera, kikuyu grass and bridal creeper. We entreat
everyone who loves our path to volunteer for an hour or so once a month to eradicate these plants. Veteran alien buster Frank Woodvine will give instructions at the start of each hack on what to eliminate and how best to do it. The municipality will issue hacking permits to the volunteers. Please join this fun hacking group to make a difference on our most popular walk. Contact Paula Combrink on WhatsApp 083 212 0115 or Anina Lee on 083 242 3295. Anina Lee, Cliff Path Management Group
