Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 5 March 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The South African Weather Service has cautioned a cut-off low-pressure system will trigger widespread showers, strong winds and severe thundershowers in various parts of the country over the weekend and early next week. Chief forecaster Kevin Rae predicts the affected areas include the western and northern interior. He says tropical moisture from neighbouring countries may cause scattered rainfall, with flood risks in central and eastern regions:

# The National Council of SPCAs has confirmed the presence of contagious ecthyma, an infectious dermatitis, of sheep and goats in the Al Mawashi feedlot, contained in the herd bound for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Shipments from Australia where the disease has been found, have been rejected by the Middle East in the past. The NSPCA’s spokesperson, Jacques Peacock, says should this shipment be rejected by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the government has confirmed with the NSPCA South Africa will not be able to accept the returning animals:

# And finally, the mayor of an Italian island offers to give away the hundreds of goats which are taking over the area. Riccardo Gullo decided on the plan after a census found there were six times as many goats on Alicudi as the human population of 100. The island is part of an archipelago north of Sicily. According to BBC, wild goats have lived on the rugged mountains for many years, but recently are causing chaos in residential areas. They ruin gardens, knock down walls and enter homes.

Stay tuned for more news………….