Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The geese debate continues as the latest developments surrounding these birds in Great Brak include an attempt at relocating them.

Mossel Bay Advertiser reported on the matter in last week's newspaper [The Great (Brak) geese debate].

Relevant organisations commented on the geese's presence in the Great Brak area.

Some members of the community are for the geese staying, while others believe they should be moved due to their effect on the environment.

The attempted removal caused an uproar from community members in the area.

According to a discussion on one of the local Facebook groups, members of the public prevented the Garden Route SPCA from removing the geese.

In reply to an enquiry from the Advertiser, Mossel Bay Municipality said it had received numerous complaints over the past 12 months about the "domestic geese" at the Great Brak estuary.

"The domestic geese do not naturally occur in Southern Africa, and, as stated by CapeNature (Western Cape Nature Conservation authority), the feral domestic geese population has a negative impact on the estuary and its natural/wild-occurring waterfowl (yellow-billed ducks, Cape teal, Cape shoveler, flamingos, terns, cormorants, plovers, sandpipers and so forth).

"Because the feral domestic geese are not owned by anyone and are occurring on public, open spaces, the Animal Protection Act becomes a concern to the municipality. It was therefore decided to approach the SPCA to assist with the humane capture and relocation of the geese, where the geese will receive the necessary care and attention."

By the time of going to print, the SPCA had not responded to the Mossel Bay Advertiser's enquiry regarding the attempt to remove the geese.

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