Successful Rescue of the Redfin Fish
In a successful rescue operation, more than 4 500 Critically Endangered Tradouw redfins (Pseudobarbus burchelli) were translocated to safe locations in the Barrydale area.
The Department of Water and Sanitation put on hold planned maintenance activities at the gauging weir on the Huis River so that CapeNature could perform the rescue. CapeNature has been monitoring the Tradouw redfin population for some years and this helped with the selection of three release sites.
Redfins were known to already occur at the two chosen sites on the Huis River. The third site, a dam on the farm Joubert Tradauw, was included in order to establish a refuge population of the species in case of any environmental disaster affecting the Huis River.
Threats to the river include over-abstraction of water, siltation, nutrification and pollution. Prior to the rescue operation, a temporary barrier of sandbags was established at the pool above the gauging weir. Staff from Grootvadersbos Nature Reserve and the Grootvadersbos Conservancy assisted CapeNature faunal ecologists with netting, transporting and releasing the fish.
The rescued fish were of all size classes, from hatchlings to breeding adults. By the end of the rescue operation only small numbers of redfins were captured at the gauging weir pool, suggesting that most of the fish had been removed. While it is inevitable that some fish will be lost during the maintenance operation, it is likely that the work will have a long-term benefit for the redfins by deepening the pool and increased habitat for the fish.
Grootvadersbos Nature Reserve team and ecologist Martine Jordaan sorting fish at the weir pool.
The Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation team with CapeNature ecologist Martine Jordaan at the Joubert Tradouw dam.
Grootvadersbos Conservancy team helping to net fish at the weir pool.
Redfins in their new home.
Related News
CapeNature visitors invited to support communities through new donation scheme
A visit to a CapeNature nature reserve can help a neighbour in need. From 5 October 2026, guests at three participating nature reserves can bring gently used clothing, blankets and other essential items for local non-profit organisations. The first phase of the donation scheme will run at Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve near Heidelberg, Kogelberg Nature Reserve near Kleinmond, and Cederberg Wilderness Nature Reserve near Clanwilliam.
Radio network upgrade to strengthen emergency communication in Hangklip area
CapeNature and Overstrand Municipality will install a small radio repeater station near Hangklip Peak as part of an upgrade to the region’s radio communication network. The repeater will strengthen the communication networks used by both parties and improve coverage across the Overstrand municipal area, Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Betty’s Bay Marine Protected Area and parts of the City of Cape Town. Reliable radio communication is essential for the daily operations of
State of Conservation Report 2026 tracks progress and pressures facing Western Cape biodiversity
The Western Cape’s biodiversity is facing mounting pressure, with a sharp increase in the area affected by fires and more ecosystems and species classified as threatened, according to the Western Cape State of Conservation Report 2026. The report records 107 fires that burned 215 936 hectares during the 2025/26 reporting period – almost three times the 75 174 hectares burned by 97 fires in the previous reporting period.
El Niño raises fire risk as Western Cape prepares for a challenging fire season
The Western Cape is preparing for a potentially challenging wildfire season, with the developing El Niño weather pattern expected to contribute to hotter and drier conditions and an increased risk of wildfires across the province. The South African Weather Service has warned of below-normal rainfall associated with the expected strong El Niño during the coming summer season. While El Niño does not automatically mean that every part of the province will experience drought
Cape fur seal safety remains important this World Rabies Day
On World Rabies Day (28 September), CapeNature is reminding residents and visitors to keep a safe distance from Cape fur seals and to act immediately if they or their pets are bitten, scratched or exposed to a seal’s saliva. Rabies has been detected in Cape fur seals along the South African coastline and by the end of 2025, at least 176 people had been bitten by seals. While most seals do not pose a threat to people, they are wild animals and should never be approached, touched, fed or encouraged to interact with humans.
How Waste Affects Biodiversity and What We Can Do About It
Waste is more than an eyesore. Littered streets, polluted rivers and overflowing landfills are visible signs of a much wider environmental problem. Every year, people generate large volumes of waste, yet much of it is not managed effectively. In South Africa, more than 60% of waste has been reported as ending up in landfills. With service-delivery challenges and many major landfill sites approaching capacity, the pressure on communities and natural ecosystems continues to grow. Both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity carry much of the impact.