A count of all the large mammals living within the borders of the Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP) will start later this week, park authorities announced on Wednesday.
The game count would mainly be undertaken from the ground, CPNP northern area manager Paddy Gordon said in a statement.
”However, around Table Mountain, the more mountainous topography will necessitate the use of a SANParks helicopter.”
He warned Capetonians not to worry if they spotted a chopper flying close to the ground over and around the mountain on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
This would be CPNP staff ”attempting to count the mammals that inhabit the northern section of the park”, Gordon said.
A game count last year at Cape Point revealed healthy herds of bontebok, eland, hartebeest, mountain zebra and ostrich. However, the only large mammals known to inhabit Table Mountain itself are the invasive Himalayan tahrs.
Contacted for comment, CPNP representative Stephen Hulbert said the use of a helicopter was ”not just an exercise to count tahrs”, but admitted there was ”not a lot of other game” on the mountain.
CPNP is currently embroiled in a series of court actions brought against it by interest group over plans by the park to eradicate the Table Mountain tahrs. – Sapa