16 October 2008
Robben Island's 300-odd fallow deer could escape the fate of their condemned rabbit companions, but owners of appropriate mainland sanctuaries will have to put their hands up very soon if all these animals are to be saved.
Several potential mainland homes for the exotic deer have already been ruled out because they allow hunting of this species, and other potential sanctuaries do not comply with strict conditions set by CapeNature for the removal of the deer from the island.
Conservationists had been hoping to start moving some of these animals in October, before the potentially dry summer when reduced natural vegetation could again cause a major feeding problem on the island.
But it now appears that deer are unlikely to move before November.
This week island authority Robben Island Museum; Searl Derman of Aquila Private Game Reserve near Touws River who has been feeding the deer on a weekly basis for the past few months; CapeNature; the SPCA; the State Vet; and animal welfare organisation Domestic Animal Rescue Group (Darg) formally agreed on a strategy to remove the deer.
Derman has been authorised to co-ordinate the relocation to suitable locations of the deer, which are described as being "in excellent condition", thanks to the supplementary feeding through the winter.
A number of deer starved to death before this feeding started and the small indigenous bontebok herd on the island - this species does not take artificial feed - was wiped out.
The weekly feeding of the deer was stopped for the past few weeks because the animals were in such good condition, but also because conservationists found that the already exploding rabbit population on the island was helping itself to the free meals intended for the deer and were therefore benefitting unintentionally.
In a joint statement, the groups involved in efforts to save the deer appealed to sanctuaries and game reserves interested in obtaining some of animals to come forward.
But they said any takers would have to comply with conditions and criteria that include a guarantee that the deer will not be hunted or used for "any other purpose that could be detrimental to their welfare".
CapeNature's deer relocation criteria include:
Beneficiary properties must be within the Western Cape Province or, if outside, must have valid import permits from the relevant provincial conservation authority.
A habitat assessment must be provided that shows the deer will cause little or no environmental degradation.
Beneficiary properties must be adequately enclosed with a 2.4 metre fence, and must already have resident fallow deer that were legally acquired.
Once deer have been introduced to an approved beneficiary property, no trade in live animals will be allowed.
Beneficiary properties may not be in an area where CapeNature has, or plans, a stewardship conservation arrangement.
Beneficiary landowners must enter into a legally binding agreement.
Only once prospective new owners have completed this process and acquired legal permits can the capture phase of the project start.
The deer capture operation will be run by Nicola van der Westhuizen, a game capture expert, while Derman and wildlife vet Dr Douw Grobler will supervise.
Work will be monitored by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA's Wildlife Unit and the Robben Island Museum's conservation team.
Kobus Crous, a wildlife helicopter pilot, will be on hand if a chopper is needed for the capture.
But the island's endangered African penguin population is mostly "at home" moulting at present and so the use of an helicopter is likely to be very restricted.
The groups said this part of the operation would be closely monitored by Marine & Coastal Management officials to ensure that the island's seabird population was not affected.
"Every reasonable effort to prevent the deer from being injured during the capture process will be undertaken and a specialist wildlife veterinarian will be on hand to attend to any emergencies."
Anyone interested in offering the deer a home can contact Derman through his PA, Stacey Truter.
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