After a wild fox was spotted in the Table View area (heading towards Sunset Beach area) recently, the Cape of Goodhope SPCA says they are seeing an increase in incidences of human-wildlife contact and conflict across many different species of wildlife.
Last week, TygerBurger reported on the Cape fox believed to be exploring the protected corridors in the Table Bay Nature Reserve the night before.
The City of Cape Town says the fox then found itself in unfamiliar territory during the day time, which might have caused the animal to take evasive action through the urban area.
Marisol Gutierrez, the SPCA’s communications manager, says the increase in incidences of human-wildlife contact and conflict across different species of wildlife is in a large part due to an increase in large-scale construction and building activities and land clearing for commercial and human settlement usage.
“In other words, the urban edge is expanding and species that were previously confined to the wild are finding themselves being pushed out of these areas due to human disturbance or finding their usual movement corridors interrupted or completely paved over to make way for residential apartments, shopping malls or office blocks,” Gutierrez says.
She explains that they (the SCPA) are seeing a corresponding reduction in availability of the usual food-prey items sought by predators (foxes, genets, serval, owls and caracals), due to the rampant use of commercial poisons laid out to control “vermin” species such as rats and mice. This has the effect of forcing wild animals into new and unfamiliar areas to seek food, as in the case of the Cape fox.
“The change of seasons will also bring about an general increase in wild animal movements as species travel outside of their ranges to seek mates or to find suitable denning sites in which to birth their season’s offspring.
“More and more people are also venturing outdoors more often while seeking their recreation in wild spaces so it stands to reason that there will be more sightings of species previously not often seen, and in our permanently connected state where everyone is online all the time, unusual sightings are being reported and shared in real-time more than ever before,” Gutierrez says.
The SPCA reminds people not to approach any wild animals, to give all wild species their space and to call the SPCA for help in cases where animals may appear sick, injured or otherwise at risk of harm.
- Report cruelty to any animal on 021 700 4158 or 021 700 4159 or for emergencies after hours, call 083 326 1604.
