Page 22 - SAPREF 50 year

“Richard Winn, a rehabilitation specialist, said he had been heartened by the desire for the dune to be rehabilitated by using alien plant control without herbicide, rescue and relocation of local indigenous species, and the mentoring and training of some of the local community in the long- term maintenance of th”is sensitive zone alongside the refinery.
This is the tip of a fossilised elephant tusk found
at Reunion Rocks near SAPREF in bar is 100mm long.
1992. The scale
Nature on our doorstep
The SAPREF Dune
One of the most prominent features of the SAPREF site is the massive dune along Refinery Road. The ‘SAPREF dune’ is an old Berea-red sand dune and one of the higher dunes on the South Coast.
Many animal species are supported by this environment, including snakes, lizards, buck (duiker), mongoose, vervet monkeys, and monitor lizards or leguvaan, which can sometimes be seen on the road eating flying- ants and the occasional dove.
The dune boasts a very high concentration of Flapnecked chameleons. From March to May the females can often be found crossing the road alongside the dune to find a place
to lay their eggs. As an indicator species, the presence of the chameleons shows that the dune is in pretty good condition.
The endangered Black-headed Dwarf chameleon that has live young, is also found in the grassy fractions of the dune.
The dune is also home to a tranquil spot called Cormorant Cove and boasts a large pond and bird hide. It is a great birding spot as there are several habitats in close proximity: primary forest with its Milkwoods, old Flatcrowns,
White Stinkwoods, Figs and White Pears; secondary forest with its young Flatcrowns, Pigeonwoods and coastal climbing Flatbeans; grasslands with indigenous Gladioli and ground orchids; and wetlands with Cape Bullrush, Juncus species and sedges.
Richard Winn, a rehabilitation specialist, who has been working alongside the pro-active SAPREF team for more than 15 years, said he had been heartened by SAPREF’s desire for
the dune to be rehabilitated by using alien plant control without herbicide, rescue and relocation of local indigenous species, and the mentoring and training of some of the local community in the long-term maintenance of this sensitive zone alongside the refinery.
A giant among us
Believe it or not, an elephant died on Reunion Rocks, over the dune from SAPREF, 130 000 years ago.
We know this because one day in 1992 a patrolling ranger saw part of the side of a tusk embedded in beach rock in a pool. He then spent two days with mask and snorkel excavating at spring low tide, managing to chisel out a section of rock and, through a
SAPREF: FUELLING SA FOR 50 YEARS
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