15 Dec KZN Crane Foundation
The Midlands used to have plenty of cranes flying in its skies and visiting the numerous wetlands in the area. Unfortunately with the advent of powerlines, and the depletion of viable wetlands the numbers have increasingly dropped. Thankfully the KZN Crane Foundation opened recently with some bold plans to help these dwindling species.
“Today, only 2% of South Africa’s grasslands are under formal protection.”
Situated a mere 10 minutes’ drive from Giant’s View Estate, you can visit the reserve and see first hand the research they are conducting and the grasslands they are preserving. Today, only 2% of South Africa’s grasslands are under formal protection and over 50% of the country’s wetlands have been lost through human activity – mining, forestry, crop farming, overgrazing, draining, industrial development and urbanization. South Africa is world-renowned for its rich biodiversity and the KwaZulu-Natal Crane Foundation (KZNCF) is one of the groups answering the need to increase public awareness about cranes and the need to conserve these unique species and the ecosystems upon which they and human communities so critically depend.
“The KwaZulu-Natal Crane Foundation (KZNCF) is one of the groups answering the need to increase public awareness about cranes and the need to conserve these unique species.”
The great news for Giant’s view is that the floodplain and wetland near the river already attracts several water bird species and in particular the Grey Crowned Crane. Often I have watched these majestic birds float down onto the floodplain and feed among the reeds.
Historically Giant’s View had blue cranes visiting the area as well, and we hope that with the rehabilitation of the wetland we will once again attract these beautiful birds back to property. The whole Rosetta will also form a conservation area which will mean more space for these animals to live in.
