Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 27 February 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Conservationists at Vulpro are celebrating the sighting of 15 wild Cape Vultures near the Mountain Zebra National Park in the Eastern Cape after a 30-year absence. Vulpro founder and CEO, Kerri Wolter, says the discovery highlights Vulpro’s efforts in rescuing vultures from near extinction. Wolter emphasised that vultures play a crucial role in preventing disease spread. She says despite overall numbers remaining critically low, the organisation continues its rehabilitation, breeding, and awareness programmes to protect these scavengers.

# The fire at Newlands Ravine in the Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town has been contained, including in previously inaccessible areas. The blaze, which started on Sunday, flared up on Tuesday night, but was suppressed by yesterday morning. The Platteklip Gorge and Kloof Corner trails have reopened, though Maclear’s Beacon and Devil’s Peak to Newlands remain closed. SANParks thanked the fire services, volunteers, and the public for their support, including donations to assist the firefighters during their 24-hour shifts.

# And finally: The South African Weather Service says it is another step closer towards full recovery from the cyber-attack that crippled its ICT systems late last month. The attack caused widespread uncertainty about the entity’s ability to provide critical weather and climate services. Spokesperson Oupa Segalwe says after the recovery the service is now able to digitally transmit all weather products:

Stay tuned for more news………….