Mpumalanga residents start animal feeding scheme

In light of the news that the bomas, which were for the capturing of 800 animals, would be erected later than anticipated, it became necessary to start with some supplementary feeding. An agreement was reached with the Nkomazi Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency that feeding would only take place at two points in which the bomas would be erected, Lowvelder reorted.

The Marloth Wildlife Fund would take charge of this feeding project. The fund had been registered as a nonprofit organisation in 2009 by concerned property owners who wanted to help support the wildlife in Marloth Park. Bags of game pellets were bought with the funds received from donors.

This feeding programme did not mean the residents did not support the game-capturing plan. One-hundred kilogram game pellets would be placed at the proposed boma sites as per agreement until they had been erected by Cobus Raath.

Food would be scattered around the proposed boma sites to ensure this would not have a negative impact on the game-capturing process. The chairperson of the Marloth Park Property Owners Association committee, Pat Wilmans, asked residents not to place food randomly around town but only in Volstruis and Raasblaar areas, where bomas had been placed before.

“By doing this, you will not only feed the animals, but also encourage them to stay in these areas, which will greatly assist with their capture.”

Wilmans hoped the bomas would be erected this week.

– Caxton News Service