Quick action saves rare plant from theft
A staff member at Pigeon Valley helped to curb theft of a plant from the reserve.
A QUICK response by Ngakhile Khwela, who has been working for Friends of Pigeon Valley in the reserve, saved a rare plant species from removal.
Ngakhile was taking out Ipomoea indicae, the invasive Morning Glory plant, when she noticed a man climbing a tree near her. She rushed to find a park ranger and the two, joined by another woman municipal worker, accosted the man who fled.
According to Crispin Hemson, who chairs the Friends, in the process the man dropped what he had been removing – sections of the woody stem of Adenia gummifera, or Green-stem.
“This is a creeper that is under pressure from unsustainable extraction in the wild. The truncheons are now to be replanted around the park to ensure its success. Actually, we did not have it on the tree list for the park, so this had some good results. And we are really impressed by Ngakhile’s dedication and commitment. Herbalists who need plant material should rather contact Silverglen Nature Reserve, which has a medicinal plant nursery,” said Hemson.
Ngakhile’s employment is enabled by the funding provided by the Friends. Much of her work is outside the reserve, as the Friends aim to protect the areas around the park.
