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Cape Town - South African National Parks (SANParks) has adopted disaster management principles to help fight the current drought in SA in the country's national parks.
SANParks issued a statement saying they "will remain true to the conservation ethics as the dry conditions continue, managing as far as possible for healthy, naturally regulated ecosystems rather than the survival of individual animals in all the parks".
This means that animals will have to survive on their own, and that park management will not deplete water resources to ensure wildlife survival per se.
"Appropriate artificial water provision that is well considered and that won’t be detrimental to plants and animals in a broader perspective have been implemented," SANParks says.
"It needs to be emphasized that droughts have an important part to play in re-organising the location and quantity of animals and plants in the wild.
"This means animals and plants will die, however this does not mean that SANParks will be apathetic to animal welfare” SANParks Chief Executive Officer Fundisile Mketeni said.
News24 reported that many animals have been culled since the start of the drought, as a method of preventing them from starving.
See everything you need to know about the current drought here:
SANParks says different parks will require different approaches and innovative and adaptable plans will be developed to be activated as and when the need arises.
The Kruger National Park has been preparing for the current drought since the start of the 2015 winter, according to 50/50 TV series.
Dr Stefanie Freitag-Ronaldson, SANParks' head of scientific services, told the TV series that droughts typically occur in intervals of about 10 to 15 years. Although Freitag-Ronaldson at the time didn't know the drought would hit a few months after the interview, she told presented Bertus Louw they were expecting it soon.
You can view the full Drought insert here:
In the face of the drought, SANParks says wildlife removals may be necessary in some of the smaller parks in order to protect the vegetation from over utilization.
In other parks, river management plans have been put in place. SANParks will also approach outside authorities - water user associations and catchment management agencies - for water releases from dams upstream from parks.
Fire management plans will also be implemented for the coming season.
READ: 25 Facts about water that might just blow your mind
- Human water consumption -
Awareness campaigns are already underway to inform SANParks staff of the drought situation along with ways to conserve water in staff villages.
In some parks, water restrictions have already been in place for some time. The design of information to inform tourists on water wise usage as well as the potential impacts of the drought is already underway, SANParks says.
Tourists and visitors to parks are urged to continue using water sparingly and observing water restrictions wherever they occur and not to feed animals when on holiday.
"We are going to do all in our power to support and enable communities adjacent to the parks we manage, whose livelihoods will be vulnerable during this period," Mketeni says.
SANParks has reassured visitors of supply of fresh water in the rest camps, picnic sites and day visitor centers throughout the holiday season.
If you would like to help save water, see: 7 Tips for travellers to survive South Africa's water restrictions
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