A dream without fences

N/A AN KU SE, a wildlife sanctuary, and Ondekaremba, a guest farm, is working towards creating a large fenceless area where wildlife can roam free.

They have decided to remove 4 km of border fence and create a 9 300-hectare fenceless area for wild animals. Oliver Rust from Ondekaremba and Dr Rudi van Vuuren from N/a an ku se cut the fence at the halfway mark. N/a an ku se is responsible for breaking down the eastern half of the fence while Ondekaremba tackles the western half. The fence should be completely removed by the end of January. ‘Breaking down the fence will allow both game and predators to move more freely. It will benefit tourism and prevent animals getting caught and injured in the fence. We plan to break down the fence on the other side of N/a an ku se in the next couple of months as well to create an area of over 10 000 hectares of free and fenceless land,’ said Van Vuuren.Both men share a vision of creating a conservation area where wild animals can roam freely and which will hopefully inspire neighbouring landowners to join the reserve. Ondekaremba is a guest farm practising eco-friendly tourism. N/a an ku se Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary is committed to conservation through its wildlife sanctuary and its carnivore conservation programme. They have been conducting large carnivore research in the area for the past two years and their research work will benefit considerably from the creation of the new reserve.