Flamingos Home Under Threat

Kamfers Dam in Kimberley, South Africa is the nesting spot for the Lesser Flamingos in South Africa and is 1 of only 6 breeding ground for the birds in the world! South Africa recently nominated the wetlands at Kamfers Dam a Natural Heritage Site because of the support it provides to the major population of Lesser Flamingos as well as other water birds.

50,000 plus Lesser Flamingos call this S shaped island home. This population produced nearly 9,000 chicks this year alone. These flamingos also makes up approximately 50 percent of South Africa's population of the pink bird.

For Kimberley the Flamingo has become a symbol for the city. These birds generating a large amount of revenue for the city when tourists come from all over to see the spectacular flying displays put on by these birds.

But these flamingos' home is now in danger from urban development. The Lesser Flamingos must cope with the deterioration in water quality believed to be caused by pollution from a near by sewage plant. This decline in water quality has caused visible deformities in the flamingos' young. The offspring have been seen with swollen joints and open sores, a great concern for local scientists. Local citizens believe the rapid development and rise in population has led to the raw sewage flowing into the animals' habitat at Kamfers Dam.  

In 2006, Ekapa Mining Company built the S shaped island for the Lesser Flamingos. The island provides two bays for the birds along with four ponds the supplies wet clay for the flamingos to build their nests. Ekapa Mining Company won the Nedbank Capital Green Mining Award as a result from their efforts to increase the population of the Lesser Flamingo in South Africa.

The S Shaped island is designed to provide sheltered bays for the flamingos to nest.

Now, a new campaign is under way. Launched by Kimberley conservationists the, Save The Flamingos campaign is calling for an upgrade of infrastructure at the Homevale Sewage Works company, the sewage company in question for polluting the waters around Kamfers Dam. The campaigners are also asking for leaking pipes to be repaired. These leaking pipes are responsible for 40 percent of the water being lost and the increase in the volume of sewage.

Duncan Pritchard, acting Executive Director of BirdLife South Africa, said, "Creating the breeding island at Kamfers Dam was a huge investment and its future should not be jeopardised by development or pollution. Pritchard went on to say, "Without urgent action the dam will become a polluted cesspool devoid of bird life and a hazard to the people of Kimberley."

If you would like to help the cause or want more information about the Save The Flamingos campaign, check out their website at www.savetheflamingo.co.za