This as it has been reported that roughly 2 000 chicks have been rescued by several organisations and shipped to various locations countrywide by local mining company Kimberley Epaka Mining JV after low water levels resulted in the chicks being abandoned by their parents in search of water. These locations include Ushaka Marine World in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria. The SPCA’s Craig Van Rensburg tells OFM News that the remaining chicks are okay for now, but should the water levels continue to drop and the dam dries up, this could result in a couple of major problems, because the little birds are unable to fly at that stage. Lesser flamingos are known to be nomadic birds that often move around in search of areas with water, which is why experts initially said nothing could be done, before the rescue mission started up.

Several organisations have rallied together to rescue the chicks these include Saam Staan Kimberley, a non-profit organisation aimed at uplifting the community, the SPCA and the Cheetah Preservation Foundation which has donated money to assist rescue efforts. This has drawn much media attention and social media reaction. The lesser flamingo species can usually be found on large bodies of shallow water without drainage such as saline lakes and dams. It is here that they feed off of spirulina algae. While the dry conditions in the area are to blame for the crisis, many have attributed the situation to problems pertaining to water infrastructure belonging to the Sol Plaatje Municipality. It has been alleged that the lack of maintenance to water infrastructure has affected the amount of water being deposited into the dam. 

OFM News spoke to Sol Plaatje spokesperson, Sello Matsie who vehemently denied that the municipality was to blame for the crisis.

OFM News