Pilanesberg Fires

[Flutterby]

I hope the animals have managed to escape.

[Richprins]

Looks like a big one...

[Flutterby]

"Further update about the fire in Pilanesberg National Park.

Morning all. An update on the fire. We have a chopper in the air to assess any animal and park damage. I will keep you posted.
We have bales of hay and water in its way. Thank you to all that are working this fire and all that are supporting on the ground.

Update @ 10:00

No injured or dead animals found after intensive air search.

Not as much of the park has burnt as anticipated so please no feed for animals needed at this point. There is enough food in the veld. Thank you!

Mankwe hide is the only structure that burnt. As soon as i know more i will advise re funds needed.

Thanks for your concern and support."

Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust

[Richprins]

[Flutterby]

Jacqueline Abington ‎Pilanesberg - Gem in the North West
5 hrs ·

Mankwe Hide (or what is left of it) at around 4pm yesterday.

[Lisbeth]

That one has to be rebuilt from the ground

[Dzombo]

Any updates?
I assume the fires are now out?

Any assessment on the damage?
Loss/injury to wildlife?

[Richprins]

Pilanesberg Nature Reserve fire 'ignited by a neighbour'
03 September 2018 - 12:31 By Naledi Shange

A fire that has ravaged part of the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve was likely started by a community member living close to the reserve‚ park manager Johnson Maoka said on Monday.

"The reserve is bordered by community members all around. One of the community members who was cleaning their yard decided to burn some rubble. The wind blew and directed the fire to the reserve‚" said Maoka. This was on Saturday.


"We fought the fire from Sunday and again on Monday morning until 4.30am. It started again at around 8am‚" he said.

Only a few small fires were still burning on the reserve by noon on Monday.

Asked about the extent of the damage‚ Maoka said: "The damage is mostly on vegetation‚ maybe about 5‚000 to 8‚000 hectares of land."

He said the Mankwe game viewing site as well as a small camp called Metsweding had been lost to the blaze. The other lodges on site were not in any immediate danger.

"Yesterday [Sunday]‚ mid-afternoon there was a lot of smoke still and I had discouraged people from coming in but this morning‚ the reserve was opened‚" he said.

TimesLIVE contacted lodges on site‚ most of whom reported that guests had been told that they would be evacuated if necessary.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south- ... neighbour/

[Richprins]

Pilanesberg Spring Blaze Fundraiser

By: Jacqueline Freer
Short URL: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/pilanesber ... fundraiser

Personal message

WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN REBUILD THE MANKWE HIDE

A fire worked its way through the Pilanesberg National Park in the North West of South Africa on Sunday the 2nd of September and continued to burn through the Monday. We are raising funds to rebuild the Mankwe Hide and assist with park needs due to this bushfire.

#GetInvolved #Donate #Share #PilanesbergSpringBlaze



Statement on Facebook from Pilanesberg National Park:

10:00 am, 3 September 2018: We have a chopper in the air to assess animal and park damage. We have bales of hay and water on its way. Thank you to all that are working this fire and that are supporting on the ground. Thanks for your concern and support. No injured or dead animals found after intensive air search. Not as much of the park has burnt as anticipated, so please, no feed for animals needed at this point. There is enough food in the veld. Mankwe Hide is so far the only structure that burnt to the ground. I will advise regarding where funds are needed.

15:00 pm, 3 September 2018: The fires are under control for now. Some areas that are unreachable are still burning. So far no reports of fatalities of larger animals and no small animals either. Though with that said, we are sure some will have perished, especially slow-moving creatures like tortoises. We will keep you posted on any developments. Thanks again to all those that are out there fighting this for more than 24 hours. You are the true heroes.

PLEASE NOTE: Your donation is paid directly to Pilanesberg National Park

Photo Courtesy Marcus Kapp



Fire Rescue Fund, Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TheFireRescueFund

The Fire Rescue Fund is an online community effort supporting people and places affected by fires. We are reaching out to those who are able to help with the fallout and damage caused by raging fires. Together we can make a difference one donation at a time. Please contact Jacqueline Freer-Van Zyl for more information on how to get your BackaBuddy campaign off the ground to assist those who have been affected by fires in SA and abroad.

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/p ... fundraiser

[Dzombo]

RP - thanks for the update
Am pleased to read:

15:00 pm, 3 September 2018: The fires are under control for now. Some areas that are unreachable are still burning. So far no reports of fatalities of larger animals and no small animals either.