Helderberg Rural Environmental Protection Unit
The mist is rising this morning as we make our way up the trail, through abundant fynbos to our designated meeting place.
It is significant that it is here, halfway up the mountain below Han se kop, that we assemble to formally document the formation of a group which have put themselves forward to stand up and safeguard nature on these mountains.
It has taken two years with many meetings, for Sir Lowry’s Pass Farm Watch patrollers Steve Chadwick and Ryan Norris, to formalise the Helderberg Rural Environmental Protection Unit.
The role players include farms and estates, Cape Nature, SAPS, Law Enforcement, local security company SAS and a Drone Operation Unit from Afriforum.
The result of these meetings has been the formulation of an operational protocol to work towards the eradication of poaching, snares, hunting dog packs and the illegal harvesting of flora, in the south basin of the Helderberg Mountains.
Hunting dog packs is a nationwide problem, which has over the past couple of years become more prevalent in the Helderberg mountain area.
The hunters operate on both sides of the mountain, gaining access from Grabouw side or from an N2 drop off.
It is usually an early morning start and the sound of the pack can be heard by the farm owners on the mountainside.
The packs can contain up to 40 dogs and are released by rifle bearing handlers.
The quest is not only for the meat, but also large amounts of money are bet on the outcome of the hunt, with a small percentage for obtaining animal parts for rituals.
These episodes are therefore also a danger for hikers and mountain bikers and damage not only to the fynbos, but also the perception of safety of the area for recreation and tourism.
Steve and Ryan had extensive discussions with the estate and farm owners of Sir Lowry’s Pass and the Steenbras reserve, gaining full support for the initiative and permission to use drones over their land and passage for responders.
It is the Farm Watch that is pivotal for this Unit to have success.
They have, over the years, assembled valuable data of the area, with Ryan and Steve knowing the trails and jeep tracks extensively.
FW represent the first responders. Once notified by residents close to the target area, a call is put out to assemble the responding team, from the pool of FW volunteers.
There are at least three available whenever the call is made, and they move into the strategic vantage points. Weather and availability permitting, drones are requested.
The experienced drone flyers are keen to assist and respond whenever possible. A slight setback is that they need to travel from Stellenbosch, which hampers their ability to get to the scene quickly.
All residents in the targeted area are alerted and act as watchers to convey information as the hunt proceeds.
Captain Charles Riffel, SAPS Sector 3 Commander, is contacted and advised that an operation is underway. The vantage point lookouts will report back as they see the route the hunters are taking.
If the data is good, FW will inform SAPS of the possible exit. SAPS can wait and will interdict the handlers at this point.
It is imperative that the responders do not confront the handlers. They are armed and have, in the past, threatened violence. It is the mandate of SAPS and Law Enforcement to deal with these perpetrators.
The approach with respect to poaching and laying of snares are discovered primarily by the Farm Watch Mounted patrol members, hikers and residents walking with their dogs.
All findings are reported, logged and dealt with individually. There is an outreach into the community run by animal activists who assist, care for and educate animals owners on proper care and attitude towards them.
It is often these young people report where the snares are laid, and those looking for dog breeds that are those used by hunters.
Captain Riffel has undertaken to introduce talks at schools to dissuade children at an early age from moving into dog fighting or dog pack hunting.
There are individuals that freely harvest flora from estates and Cape Nature. A few reside in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village and sell their pickings there.
They have been warned of the consequences which are mostly ignored. This is an area that will need to be investigated further and a specific protocol introduced.
AT END: Sue Hillyard, who has contributed to Bolander on many occasions, says: “As a resident of Sir Lowry’s Pass for over 20 years, I have had the good fortune to work amongst dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers. No challenge is too great. With this good ethic I believe this new protection unit can only succeed.”