ADDO Elephant National Park sustained damage along its Darlington and Nyathi sections’ fence lines on Sunday after heavy downpours.
“All the fences at Nyathi are back up. There are areas at Darlington which are not yet accessible for repairs, however Rangers have been stationed there since the flash floods to ensure that no animals escape,” said Fayroush Ludick, Regional Manager: Communications, South African National Parks.
The same was done along the Nyathi fence line until the repairs were complete there.
“There have not been any closures of sections of the Park at any stage since. There is understandably quite a bit of damage to the road network within the Park as a result of the downpours. A contractor has already been on site to inspect what needs to be done. This is a priority at the moment,” said Ludick.
According to a release issued on the Park’s Facebook page, teams worked until 01:00 on Monday morning to lift most of the fencing that came down close to the Mimosa railway station.
At that stage the fence could not be put back up as the ground was still too water-logged. However, most affected sections were closed up temporarily. Where it couldn’t be closed, rangers were stationed to ensure no game could escape.
While there has been quite a bit of damage, more than anything else the Park is grateful for the rain. The damage can be fixed, however, one is helpless in the face of drought.
Addo Elephant National Park guests are requested to please be careful and patient with regard to the damage to the dirt roads throughout the Park.
Rainfall figures measured in the different sections of the Park on Sunday are as follows:
Kabouga 12mm
Arizona 55mm
Z
uurberg 41mm
Darlington 27mm
Mimosa over 100mm in two hours
– HEILIE COMBRINCK
