30 November 2023
During a recent predator course in Mount Fletcher, Fulirex and Chris Wilken donated two caracal traps to communal farmers. The goal was to gain insight into animals and predators in the area. Farmers were instructed to keep records of everything caught in the traps.
A communal monitoring farm was started last year in Mount Fletcher, with four shearing houses and 288 participating farmers.
Livestock numbers have been recorded to form a baseline for monitoring. Types of predators have been identified, with stray dogs posing a significant threat to the communities. The analysis and evaluation of data will be included in an annual report.
Predation specialist Niël Viljoen was appointed to train 150 communal farmers by the end of February 2023. The programme, funded by AgriSETA, consists of seven courses covering basic principles of livestock management, handling and protection.
The communal farmers were shown various ways of controlling predators by adapting methods according to their farming practices, namely:
- Deterrents such as the “protect-a-lamb” collar.
- Herding animals during the day.
- Kraaling at night.
- Fencing protected areas during lambing.
Jackal and caracal traits related to colour, habitat, traces, mating season, catching and eating patterns, and territory were discussed. The use of trap cages to successfully manage caracals and stray dogs was also demonstrated.
The main objective of the monitoring farm is to protect and conserve biodiversity and to achieve the best solutions for livestock and predator management. The goal includes training farmers on management strategies to understand existing situations and seek future solutions.
