Hluhluwe Conservation Manager, Sihle Nxumalo, has warned that fines will be imposed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife officials or Halbisa Traffic Officers on drivers exceeding the 60km/h speed limit.  This in the wake of several incidents where wild dogs, lion and white rhino have been hit by vehicles.

Road of Death

by Dave Savides (Editor - Zululand Observer)

To effectively plan traffic routing, it is sometimes essential for transport planners to bend certain rules and permit traffic flows through conservation areas. Normally this is done in response to consistent public appeals, as in the case of the 18km corridor road (R618) through the iMfolozi-Hluhluwe Park. With hindsight this might not have been such a bright idea as motorists tend to ignore speed limits, as well as the protocols of sharing such roads with protected wild animals. Every conceivable animal in the park has over the few years of this road’s existence, been struck and killed or maimed. Speeding is a major problem, as is littering. The huge extent of the littering became evident last week during a corridor cleanup over 3km of road. Taxis, buses and commercial trucks - as well as private vehicles - deposited more than a ton of bottles and cans, fast food containers, nappies, and assorted non-degradable plastics.

This is totally unacceptable as wild animals can be seriously harmed by swallowing such items or being poisoned by them. A road, which was grudgingly conceded by the conservation authorities, due to public pressure, has turned into a death row for the animals which roam in the park. Consistent appeals by the authorities to use this road with great circumspection have simply been ignored and perhaps it is time that, as in the USA and Japan, the use of the thoroughfare be strictly limited to certain daylight hours, a rule which can be easily enforced and which will save animal lives.