Court challenge to save black eagles (South Africa)

[struggle4progress]

August 12 2006 at 05:41PM
By Sheree Russouw

... The Sisulu Reserve Working Group said this week they planned to submit a court review application to stop Mogale City's authorised development of a 6-million-litre reservoir on top of a pristine ridge managed as part of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Roodepoort ...

The authorised site on the ridge in Rangeview Extension 4 is just 700m from the nesting site of the only breeding pair of black eagles in an urban area in the world, and could destroy untouched protea grassland vegetation. The eagles hunt directly over it ...

If Mogale City did not accept the recent offer by Silverstar Development - the developers of a new casino to be built near the R28 highway - of a portion of their degraded land for the reservoir or viable options, the working group would pursue the matter in court, Albertson said ...

"If there was a crack in the reservoir, 6-million litres of water would seep into it. The worst-case scenario is that this would cause a massive landslide and rockfall … the same fault line was responsible for the collapse of a portion of the R28 in 1978" ...

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20060812093725494C129274

[tabatha]

1. Black Eagles of Roodekrans

It is certain that the individuals who check the website regularly and better still those who have the opportunity of watching the "live from the nest" TV monitor at the entrance of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, marvel at the growth and behaviour of the chick, as well as the tender, loving care portrayed by Emoyeni.

She leaves the nest for a few minutes at a time, just to spread her wings and allows the proud father a few seconds to glance at his offspring. This chick is fortunate that the first egg did not hatch, otherwise it would not have had a chance to survive. May it thrive and look forward to a secure future.

Against all odds, the male is hunting proficiently and bringing in sufficient prey during this critical time. We can only hope and pray that no further developments are allowed to devastate the eagles' habitat. Every visitor to the Garden expresses concern regarding the existing number of houses, complexes, shopping centres etc in the area and wonders why it was all sanctioned in the first place. Now it is enough, some places are sacred, eagles and people need space, undisturbed vegetation, natural beauty and from the eagles' point of view - hunting territory! The proposed water reservoir, 700 metres from the nest would be a disaster, as well as any further buildings, there are other places to destroy, but not in this precious environment.

http://www.africam.com/black_eagle.php?PHPSESSID=09d60ba14d05e3614770675015f67713

Live webcam from the menu "BlackEagle Cam".

Edit: the camera is in darkness now, but some earlier shots can be seen in "Highlights".

[struggle4progress]

2. What beautiful birds!

[tabatha]

3. more info

Here is the original and continuing project:
http://www.blackeagles.co.za/

And pictures:



And info:
http://www.nnf.org.na/RAPTORS/raptors_pges/verreauxseagle.htm

[struggle4progress]

4. Thanks! The project site is interesting and informative.