Bartholomeus Klip Social & Environment Initiatives

Social & Environment Initiatives

At Bartholomeus Klip, conservation co-exists with farming. Agriculture in the Cape has destroyed most of the original renosterveld (a type of fynbos), but the large area conserved here forms the last remaining viable habitat of the geometric tortoise, one of the world's most endangered reptiles.
 
Nearly 800 plant species (the whole of the British Isles has not even twice as many) have so far been identified in an ongoing project. Many are rare and unusual, and some occur only here in the reserve. 

Animals from two fascinating eco-projects can be also be seen. The revolutionary attempt to re-breed the extinct quagga, a zebra-like animal with no stripes on its rump and legs but identical DNA to the plains zebra, has aroused enormous interest around the world. Recently there was much excitement when a foal was born at Bartholomeus Klip with the fewest markings on rump and legs to date.
 
The buffalo project is vitally important in a different way. Most buffalo in Africa are found in places where various diseases highly dangerous to cattle occur, and may not be moved to disease-free areas such as the Western Cape. However, a recent breeding project next to the Kruger Park has successfully produced healthy buffalo calves, reared by Jersey 'mother' cows in strict quarantine conditions. It was a great day when they arrived at Bartholomeus Klip, the first buffalo to be seen in the Western Cape for 300 years.