WESTERN CAPE NEWS - There is a code of conduct guiding where and when to walk dogs in a national park.
Guidelines favour both nature and dogs.
There are several beach areas in Wilderness where dog walking is allowed. Always ensure that your dog is on a leash.
• East of the parking at the NSRI up the staircase before the Wilderness Hotel.
• Kleinkrantz parking area, west to 6th Avenue and east up to the first rocks at Gerrick's Point
• East of the parking at Myoli beach and Cola Beach
• Along the Vlei where there is reasonable access and no signage prohibiting dogs.
Dog handlers are requested to adhere to all the rules and regulations of the beach area including conditions for leashing.
• This is to protect dogs from wild animals as dogs may become prey to predators or get attacked by other wild animals like baboons, especially in the forestry areas.
• Dogs in the park may harass or kill plants and animals protected by the Park. They may also disturb birds during breeding seasons.
• Dogs also tend to enjoy digging up plants and which may be significant indigenous plants necessary for the survival of the ecosystem.
• Dogs may spread disease. Domestic dogs and cats may carry certain pathogens that pose a serious disease risk to wild canids, felids, viverids and mustelids.
SANParks has a guideline for visually impaired people with guide dogs and or assistance dogs visiting any National Park. The entry and exit of the guide dog into/out of most national parks will be covered by a permit issued by SANParks or veterinary wildlife unit.Birds
• Their nests are often shallow scrape in the sand on exposed beaches and vulnerable to roving and excitable dogs.
• Incubation of eggs is about 29 days and youngsters take about 45 days to become independent. Breeding success rate is 20% to 40%.
• Black Oystercatchers are threatened by disturbance and coastal development; the total population is less than 6500 individuals.
• They normally breed between September and April.
• The breeding pairs along this beach are monitored on a regular basis and have been for nearly two decades.
Dog walking bans are enforced at all beaches administered by Eden and George municipalities.
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