#HandsOffOurWildAnimals in the Western Cape

Credit: Rooisand Horse Watch

The Bot-Kleinmond estuary in the Western Cape, which was declared South Africa’s 23rd Ramsar site as a wetland of global importance in 2017, falls into a 462 hectare property recently bought by Craig Saunders to be developed as Lamloch Safari Park. This controversial development that plans to offer human interaction with wild animals amounts to little less than a rich man's petting zoo.

A recently erected electrified fence around the 462 hectare property, Lamloch, has severely compromised the movement of the free roaming horses of Rooisand.

These ethereal Wild Horses roam free in the wetlands between Kleinmond and the Botrivier Lagoon and are South Africa’s only herd of wild horses to be found in a wetland habitat.

The mystery surrounding the origin of this herd is ongoing – some say they descend from horses hidden in the vlei during the Anglo Boer War. Another theory is that they are descended from horses brought to the area by early Dutch settlers and survived a massive cull carried out once their role on farms became redundant whilst a more romantic notion holds that they are descended from the cavalry of horses that swam ashore when the Birkenhead was wrecked off the Gansbaai coast in 1852. Whilst the origin of this elusive herd remains a mystery, what is certain is that the Rooisand Horses should be allowed to remain free roaming as they are an integral part of our local heritage.

Craig Saunders, owner of the property, has applied for environmental approval to develop a game farm with tourist facilities and plans to introduce elephant, lion, zebra, bontebok and a variety of other species to the enclosed area. Another main objective of the land owner is that of intensive buffalo breeding and live sales. The proposed development will offer 100 jobs during the construction phase and 50 permanent positions once the game farm is established, however, does this make keeping wild animals in captivity for human amusement and money any less despicable?

Whilst Land Party supports developments offering employment and stability to local residents, we are also mindful of the over development of the area, prevention of animal cruelty and wild animal captivity, as well as the preservation of the natural biosphere and of our heritage.

Land Party supports the organisations that have been fighting this and we appeal to all Landers to send your comments against the development of Lamloch Safari Park to Adel Groenewald at adel@dougjeff.co.za. Public participation closes on 1 April.

#FreeTheRooiSandWildHorses #DownWithLamlochSafariPark #WildAnimalsBelongInTheWild