After-effects of Dana Bay wildfire devastating

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A search-and-rescue operation for the wildlife caught in the devastating wildfires in the Dana Bay greenbelts on 25 November saw 10 animals rescued, but about 90 found dead.

The operation, facilitated by the Dana Bay Conservancy, Wildlife Crime Information Network (WCIN) and the Garden Route SPCA Mossel Bay branch, started early on Wednesday morning,
26 November, with about 70 people volunteering throughout the day in various parts affected by the fires along Flora Road.

"Nothing can truly prepare you for what you face when you arrive and see only ashes. In that moment, you realise how small the chances of survival are," said Elize Goosen, the SPCA Mossel Bay's branch manager.

"With everyone working together, we recovered snakes, lizards, spiders, tortoises, mice, birds and monkeys. One of the most heartbreaking scenes was finding a group of monkeys together, a family, which deeply affected us all. I picked up a very small tortoise, and it struck me how frightened it must have been in its final moments."

The Garden Route SPCA Mossel Bay’s branch manager, Elize Goosen, holds up a dead tortoise. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse

Erika van der Westhuizen, the Dana Bay Conservancy's chairperson, recounted the emotional moments when she picked up a tortoise and it disintegrated into ashes right in her hands. "It just crumbled in my hands, like it was never there. But it was alive. It was just terrible," she said.

"The conditions in Dana Bay have been very dry and windy and the conservancy has been concerned about wildfires. And then Tuesday's fire happened. The scale was large.

Leon Rossouw of WCIN said the after-effects for the surviving wildlife will be devastating.

Leon Rossouw of the WCIN examines a set of tracks left by an animal that survived the wildfires. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse

He said caracals, porcupines, antelope, tortoises, spiders, snakes, various insects, birds and genets live in these now burned greenbelts and he feared there were many animals that managed to escape the blaze, but with injuries and are now suffering, with no safe place to go.

Van Der Westhuizen said that although it was an incredibly sad day, it was heartwarming seeing how the community came together for the sake of the wildlife.

She thanked all the volunteers who came out to help and some local businesses who supplied water, cooldrinks and food to the volunteers throughout the day.

Dana Bay Conservancy's Erika Van der Westhuizen looks on while two members of the Garden Route SPCA Mossel Bay branch, Vuyo Klaasen and Johannes Mathobisa, bag a dead antelope that was caught in the Dana Bay wildfires.
Photo: Chelsea Pieterse

Rossouw said that he is concerned injured animals may have moved to unburned vegetation which are areas the teams did not search. He said he is planning another operation in these areas and that those who want to participate should contact WCIN's hotline or the conservancy.

He emphasised it was important that people join the coordinated operations rather than go out by themselves or their own small groups. He said this is because the conditions on the ground can be difficult to traverse and it could be dangerous.

Van der Westhuizen added that some of the land is private property and those who enter the land who are not part of the official search may be prosecuted.

Contact WCIN on 079 643 9556 or the Dana Bay Conservancy on 067 490 8396.

Click here to see video from the scene of the wildfire and the scene of the search and rescue operation.

Kay Ievers of the Garden Route SPCA Mossel Bay branch holds up a surviving tortoise she rescued during the operation. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse