Pigeon Valley faces challenges in new year
Residents have been up in arms about the attack of red Duikers, after three stray dogs had gained entry to the reserve.
PIGEON Valley nature reserve, popular with Glenwood residents and visiting birders, is experiencing ongoing difficulties into the new year.
Unlike other parks, it has continued to be open as a result of having access control at the gate.
However, according to Crispin Hemson, convenor of the Friends of Pigeon Valley, a series of problems have been a major threat to the reserve.
“Typically, people ask about security, yet crime has not, in fact, been an issue for some time. We are much more concerned over the ongoing failure of the municipality to complete the stormwater project, and in addition, stray dogs have recently got into the reserve and have attacked Red Duikers,” he said.
ALSO READ: New drainage system at Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve fails against recent heavy rains
Speaking to Berea Mail this week, he said the residents had been up in arms about the attack of the Duikers, which were first reported a month ago, after
three stray dogs had gained entry to the reserve through holes in the fence and attacking the Red Duikers, killing probably two so far.
Hemson said he had seen the dogs on two occasions while walking in the reserve before Christmas. He said he had found the remains of a Duiker in the reserve, and a resident had also seen a Duiker being attacked.
“I spoke to the management about this, and an intervention by Friends of Pigeon Valley led to Alliance Fencing volunteering to close holes in the fencing, at their own expense. This work was recently undertaken, however the dogs have still managed to get in by pushing their way in underneath the fence. We will only have protection when the fence has been replaced; this is the only long term solution,” he said.
Hemson said the refencing of the reserve was due to be undertaken in 2020, but the Covid pandemic delayed the funding.
He said he felt these dogs had a sense for hunting and something needed to be done to stop them.
“We can’t have the Duikers living in tension of being attacked by dogs,” he said.
Another ongoing issue is the erosion as a result of the ongoing construction of a stormwater project in the reserve. He said despite attempts from the end of 2019 onwards to get action by the contractor to complete the project, which began at the end of October 2019, work was undertaken for only a short period in 2020.
The lockdown impeded work for three months, however little work was done thereafter.
Once the rains started again, there was major damage in the form of erosion and the complete filling of the planned retention pond with sand from the erosion up the valley.
Late in 2019 an environmental watchdog halted further work because of the extent of damage.
“What this has meant is that, every time there is significant rainfall, sand gets deposited down the Berea. The heavy rain on 31 December saw sand again deposited on the roads below the reserve. There is no longer a walkway up through the reserve. The other result of the filling of the pond with sand is that it keeps a trickle of water flowing down the paved track below it, which has now been sealed off to visitors because of the slippery conditions.”
ALSO READ: Erosion causes damage at Durban’s Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve
He said to make things worse, there was a prolonged sewerage flow into the reserve. Despite assurances by the municipality on four occasions that the problem had been resolved, it continued, creating a significant health hazard.
“Two children who had played in the flow got ill and a visitor on a guided walk slipped on the paving and had a wound that became infected. Thankfully the sewerage flow has now been closed,” he said.
Hemson said he would continue to keep in touch with the relevant stakeholders to address these issues.
Responding to a request for comment, eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said: “Construction is still continuing. We expect that the work should be completed by the end of February, however, this date is dependent on good working conditions. It can be extended if the weather (rain) persists.”
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