Wildlife warning signs have been installed along five roads in the South where wild animals from baboons to porcupines, tortoises, caracal, western leopard toads and many others are known to cross during the day or at night.
Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, says the aim of the joint effort – between the City of Cape Town’s urban mobility directorate and the environmental management department – is to keep wildlife and residents safe.
“We are blessed to have Table Mountain National Park in the heart of our city, with a further 21 nature reserves and many more protected areas embedded within the fabric of our city. These natural spaces are home to a wide variety of wild animals, many of them nocturnal, such as porcupines.”
Andrews says, given that these animals live within and on the edges of our urban areas, they often cross our roads and are in danger of being run over while doing so.
“The purpose of the warning signs is to make road users aware that there is a possibility that wildlife may be busy crossing the road, or may be within the road reserve, and to drive with caution. This is in the interest of the welfare of our precious wildlife and will also assist with the safety of road users,” says Andrews.
The new signage was recently installed along Rhodes Drive in Constantia, Constantia Road in Constantia, Orpen Road in Tokai, Noordhoek Road in Noordhoek and Simon’s Town Main Road in Simon’s Town.
The signs are installed along secondary arterial routes and sites are identified by officials from the Environmental Management Department (EMD) and City traffic engineers.
Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayco member for urban mobility, says all of the signs comply with the South African Road Traffic Signs Manuals and are applicable to all wildlife, day or night.
“It may seem simple, but these signs cannot be installed at any site. For example, the sign must be positioned where there is sufficient sight distance for road users; the signs may not obstruct any other vital road sign such as those indicating a sharp bend, a stop sign, pedestrian crossing and the like,” says Quintas.
The City is planning to install more warning signs in the Cape Point region in the new financial year.
