Man apprehended, collecting plants

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A 24-year-old man was apprehended and fined after he was allegedly found in possession of bags of plant bulbs without a permit.

The arrest followed a tipoff to the Wildlife Crime Information Network (WCIN) hotline that a man was seen digging out plants in an undeveloped area opposite Paradise Coast Beach and Eco Estate, off Flora Road, Dana Bay on 25 October.

The WCIN's Leon Rossouw said that following the tip-off, he went to the area and after searching for a while, came across a man placing plant bulbs into a bag that he had allegedly just dug up. Rossouw said that when he continued to survey the area, he found a second bag filled with bulbs about 100 metres away.

Rossouw said he later identified the bulbs to be from candelabra (Brunsvigia orientalis) plants. Rossouw alleged the man had dug out more than 80 of the plants across a 100 square metre area.

KwaNonqaba Police Station spokesperson Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp said the man, a 24- year-old from KwaNonqaba, was apprehended and fined for collecting the plants without a permit. He said the man will appear in court on 8 January next year.

Rossouw urged the public to report any instances of wildlife crime. Call WCIN on its hotline (079 643 9556) or email report@wcin.org. za. Information given will be treated as confidential.

One of the bags containing bulbs, found in Dana Bay on 25 October. Photo: Leon Rossouw