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
Environmental education gets a boost through CapeNature’s museum training
CapeNature has partnered with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS): Museum Services to expand environmental education across the Western Cape. During February 2026, CapeNature’s Learning and Awareness team trained 18 museum staff members from DCAS affiliated institutions to deliver activity-based programmes focused on water conservation
Western Cape marks World Wildlife Day as CapeNature highlights climate resilience and sustainable living
The Western Cape is marking World Wildlife Day on 3 March, a day proclaimed by the United Nations, by reaffirming its commitment to biodiversity protection, climate resilience and sustainable development, with CapeNature playing a central role in conserving the province’s natural heritage.
CapeNature Cubs Club Connect 2026 makes a splash with water-themed family fun
Scores of children and their families flocked to Jonkershoek Nature Reserve over the weekend to take part in a day of learning, laughter and connection in nature as part of CapeNature’s Cubs Club programme. Around 70 children and their families took part in the Cubs Club Connect 2026 event to celebrate this year’s theme, Water.
JOINT STATEMENT: Final Action Plan for baboons includes a sanctuary, fencing, and more
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) consisting of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, welcomes the judgment from the Western Cape High Court which allows the three authorities to continue with the implementation of the Action Plan for the management of the Chacma baboon population.
Reforest Fest returns to tackle climate action in the Western Cape
As the Western Cape recovers from one of its worst fire seasons on record, with over 132,000 hectares burned across the region in January alone, Greenpopʼs Reforest Fest returns this Easter weekend with a sense of renewed urgency. The four-day restoration festival at Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat aims to plant 5,000 indigenous trees in degraded forest patches as part of Greenpopʼs ongoing work in the region.
CapeNature rangers praised for heroic rescue of stranded UK tourist
A visit to the iconic Robberg Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area — one of the Garden Route’s most celebrated gems — turned into a life-threatening ordeal for a London tourist, and a powerful reminder of humanity of CapeNature’s field rangers. For Ms Rosalind Innes, Robberg had been a long-awaited addition to her South African travel itinerary.