Volunteers try to save barbels
2013-02-26 16:00
Bloemfontein – A group of volunteers are battling to save a school of barbels from a dried up vlei in the Northern Cape, the Volksblad newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The report said thousands of barbels had died already. Many were saved from the dry Rooifontein vlei, but thousands more were expected to die due to the heat in coming days.
A member of the Rooifontein nature club, Dup du Preez, said the club was urgently looking for people who could help relocate the fish to farm dams or elsewhere.
Du Preez said it was the first time in three years that the vlei had baked totally dry due to the heat.
He told the newspaper that about 10 000 litres of water were pumped onto the struggling fish from boreholes.
This was, howeve,r not enough.
Those interested to helping to save some of the barbels could contact Du Preez at 082 555 4123.
- SAPA
