The City of Cape Town is to install what is probably the world’s first ”penguin crossing” in an attempt to reduce fatalities among the jaywalking feathered pedestrians on the Simon’s Town main road.
The colony of African penguins live side by side with Simon’s Town residents in a protected area at Boulders Beach, part of the Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP).
Despite attempts by CPNP managers to contain the birds to their natural environment, some continued to venture across the main road in search of suitable nesting areas during the breeding season.
CPNP ranger Justin Buchanan said a total of 19 penguins had been killed by speeding motorists in the past four months. He said main road was a busy thoroughfare in the False Bay area.
It was used regularly by residents and tourists on their way to Boulders Beach which had become a popular destination.
”Although the speed limit on the stretch of road near Boulders is 60km/h, the penguins are difficult to spot, especially at night if they have their back to oncoming traffic,” Buchanan said.
He said the CPNP had even erected artificial nests to attract the penguins to breed inside the park and was considering introducing ”penguin catchers” to return those birds which had wandered beyond the boundaries.
”This is one of the more unusual aspects of managing South Africa’s only national park in an urban area and we are fortunate to enjoy a good working relationship with the City of Cape Town,” Buchanan said.
The Cape Town traffic department had replaced residents’ informal warning signs with an official ”penguin crossing” after the CPNP had notified them of the plight of the penguins.
Similar warning signs have been erected for other species of animal. On the road between Ashton and Robertson there are notices warning motorists of tortoises crossing the road. – Sapa