WHY DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE GREYTON NATURE RESERVE
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| Cape Grassbird |
Nature reserves are havens created to support, protect
and conserve the flora and fauna in these wilderness areas. They are home to numerous species of plants,
mammals, and birds under threat from disturbance and dislocation elsewhere.
A balance must be found between allowing access to enjoy
nature reserves whilst continuing to protect them.
Dog walking is
one issue where this balance is difficult, with various people wishing to walk
their dogs in these areas. The fact is that dogs in reserves can cause a
significant amount of damage, mostly unnoticed by visitors. International
research has repeatedly shown that dogs in natural areas, on or off a lead,
result in displacement of many species of wildlife, particularly birds. Not
only does this negatively affect the biodiversity of the area, but in turn
impacts on ecotourism, including bird watching, which is an increasingly
popular pastime throughout the world.
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| Orange-breasted Sunbird |
Dogs by their very nature are hunters, whilst birds and
small animals, by their nature, are prey.
Dogs have been domesticated and bred for thousands of
years and are not a natural part of our wildlife. They may be man’s best
friends but they are seen as major predators by wildlife. When a dog quarters
an area, it is in reality looking for prey to hunt or retrieve. Even though you
may not see your dog chasing a bird or animal, wild animals sense your dog’s
presence, thus causing unnecessary stress. We are talking not only of dogs that
are allowed to roam, but that the very presence of dogs can disturb wildlife,
for example by driving birds away from their nests to seek refuge. Many bird
species are ground-nesters, such as Spotted Eagle-owls, Francolin and the Cape
Rock Thrush. A mere bark is enough to disturb and affect young birds. Worse
still, they can kill and maim animals.
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| Remains of a Klipspringer |
The presence
of dog faeces and its scent can cause animals to stay away from surrounding
areas. All this has the potential to create significant disturbance to wildlife
throughout the nature reserve and may also result visitors to the reserve being
less likely to see and hear wildlife.
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| Nerine pudica |
Dog
faeces are rich in nutrients – wildflowers need low nutrient soils in which to
flourish. Soils over-enriched with dog faeces encourage the growth of coarser
plants which compete and outgrow our unique flora.
If hands or
food are contaminated by dog faeces serious diseases in humans can ensue, such
as canine roundworm and hydatid disease, especially in young children. The
water in the streams and in the Noupoort leiwater
dam can also be contaminated. Other diseases such as canine distemper can also
be transmitted to wildlife including various members of the cat family
One of the
principle reasons people want to walk in the Greyton Nature Reserve is because
it is a quiet sanctuary in which to enjoy the peace and quiet of this
near-pristine environment and its wildlife.
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| Spotted Eagle-Owl |
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| Rock Agama |
We have a combined responsibility to ensure that it stays that way.
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| Leopard tortoise |
We hope that
by spreading the message about the unique quality and value of the Reserve and
the negative impact that dogs can have on wildlife and other people’s
enjoyment, that dog owners will be more considerate and walk their dogs in the
other extensive areas of the Commonage where dog walking is allowed. Just as
importantly they must ensure that their dogs remain on their properties and are
not allowed to roam.
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| Scrub hare |
The
Society takes responsibility for the day to day management with volunteer workers and
part-time employees working tirelessly to maintain the habitat and facilities through
track maintenance, rebuilding bridges after fires and floods, and removing
invasive alien vegetation, with practically no external financial support.
Last but not least, there are the Municipal By-Laws, the Provincial Nature and Environmental Conservation Regulations of 1975, and the NEMA:
Protected Areas Act 2003 Regulations. The Greyton Nature Reserve Advisory Board
is responsible for the protection and management of the Reserve and is
represented by the Theewaterskloof Municipality, CapeNature and members drawn
from the Conservation Society.
Please help us to conserve this special area
for the protection of our wildlife and for the enjoyment of future generations
of residents and visitors.
Greyton Nature Reserve Advisory Board
and the Greyton Conservation Society
