Cape Grysbok Relocation Date: 6th November 2024
Location: Milnerton Racecourse Section (MRC), Table Bay Nature Reserve
Event: Game Capture
Written by: Fabrice Turikumwe
Addressing the Grysbok Challenge
On 6th November, the Milnerton Racecourse Section (MRC) of Table Bay Nature Reserve became the site of an essential wildlife management operation for a Cape Grysbok Relocation. This collaborative effort, led by Nature Connect Site Manager Shaquille Benjamin, brought together over 60 committed team members from the City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management Branch, Nature Connect, and the River Wardens.
The reserve, a fenced 19-hectare area, had been grappling with overpopulation of Cape Grysbok, a species native to the region. Recent counts indicated more than double the ideal carrying capacity of six animals, leading to overgrazing and strain on the reserve’s critically endangered vegetation.
A Mission for Balance
With no natural predators to regulate their numbers, the Cape Grysbok had inadvertently become a threat to the delicate ecosystem they call home. The mission aimed to restore balance by reducing their population to a sustainable level, giving the reserve’s rare flora a chance to recover and thrive.
The operation was meticulously planned and executed, with veterinary support ensuring the safety and well-being of the animals. Six grysbok were successfully captured and relocated to a new habitat, where they will have the opportunity to flourish without jeopardising the fragile ecosystem at MRC.
A Collective Success
This successful operation would not have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of all involved. Nature Connect extends heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in this vital mission.
We wish the relocated Cape Grysbok a thriving life in their new environment and look forward to seeing the positive impact on the MRC’s unique vegetation.
Event Partners
- City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management Branch
