The EWT’s Wildlife and Infrastructure Unit (WIN), in collaboration with National Transmission Company of SA (NTCSA), has installed camera traps on a power line within a nature reserve In the Northern Cape to understand incidents involving birds along this section of line.

The use of camera trap technology will help us to monitor bird interactions with power infrastructure on a Boundary Olien 1 power line within the Dronfield Nature Reserve outside Kimberley.  This is because the power line has had several wildlife and electrical infrastructure incidents in the recent past, including vulture collisions.

Following the installation of three camera traps a few months ago, a fourth one was added to the line, to increase monitoring of the area. 

With these four technological eyes now monitoring the power lines, we hope to gather more data on how birds interact with the power lines. This   will not only help us better understand these interactions, but also assist us in applying relevant mitigation measures to minimise negative impacts on both wildlife and power lines and other electrical infrastructure.

Without this intervention the impact on vulture populations in the area will continue. The Wildlife in Nature Unit is appealing to the public to report any incidents involving power lines and electrical infrastructure to amosl@ewt.org so we can take the steps needed to protect the wildlife and power lines.