Firefighters from Table Mountain National Park, NCC Environmental Services, and Working on Fire alongside the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services battle the fires at Skeleton Gorge, while the SPCA Search and Rescue is standing by ready to enter.
Thursday, 3rd of May
This male angulate tortoise is on his way to base and veterinary care after being found with burn wounds in the Maclear’s Beacon area. Our veterinary team will be doing their best to save him. A lot of the burnt areas are steep and rugged, and the search is hard-going, but every suffering animal deserves nothing less than our relentless efforts, and our search and rescue team is persisting with determination.
The recent fire has ravaged approximately 283 hectares of veld, leaving many wild animals displaced or injured. You can help by putting shallow bowls of water out in your gardens for thirsty animals and calling us on 0217004158/9 should you come across any injured or displaced animals in need of our assistance. Please send your support now so we can find and help the injured. Click here to donate today.
Thursday, 2nd of May
Today, firefighting efforts continued along the slopes of Fernwood Park and Newlands, with over 60 firefighters from Table Mountain National Park, NCC Environmental Services, Volunteer Wildfire Services, and Working on Fire battling a large flare-up. It’s been hard to stand down knowing that there are animal casualties, but we can’t hinder fire-fighting efforts or place the team at risk by expecting them to look out for our safety as well.
Fortunately, our search and rescue efforts can begin in earnest tomorrow at first light in the Maclear’s Beacon area which has been deemed safe for us to enter. With thanks to Tam Drake, who took up a collection and purchased energy bars, energy drinks, eyedrops and Burnshields for our search and rescue team they’ll be entering the area well prepared for the challenges ahead.
An estimated 220 hectares of burnt veld lays ahead of us and we have no idea what we will find or how many animals are in need of help. Please send your support now so we can find and help the injured. Click here to donate today.
Monday, 29th of April
While 40 firefighters are actively engaged along the fire line, wind shifts and cloud cover are making the fire’s intensity difficult to predict and control. All hiking trails between Newlands and Constantia Nek, as well as all trails leading to Maclear’s Beacon and the Back Table of TMNP, inclusive of trails leading from the area between Camps Bay and Hout Bay and the Platteklip Gorge trail are closed. Access to the mountain is currently is restricted to firefighters only but the SPCA’s Search and Rescue team is standing ready to enter the affected areas as soon as it is deemed safe for us to do so.
Yesterday the team completed a 3-hour hike up the mountain and reached the Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir. Unfortunately, flare-ups were occurring all around them and when the wind picked up and changed direction posing a threat to their safety, they had to retreat. They didn’t give up! They continued seeking alternative routes to areas affected by the blaze and to rescue any surviving animals caught in its path.
Support our Search and Rescue Efforts in Skeleton Gorge
