Organisation fights to save habitat of Bushbabies from developers in Joburg

Photo Credit: Dean Polley

Susanna Volland is bravely trying to save a small population of Bushbabies in Fourways that are at risk due to a potential residential development.

Fourways, South Africa (22 February 2019) – ‘Save the Bushbabies of Fourways’ has launched a petition in the hopes to halt the development of a residential building on land that is home to Bushbabies.

The area, a 25m strip of land between already established houses, is home to the most Southerly population of the Lesser Bushbabies. Susanna Volland has started the petition in the hopes of delivering it to the Johannesburg City Council, asking them to reconsider the demolishing of these small creatures habitat.

“It would be a huge shame on us to allow this green belt which supports so much indigenous wildlife, including this only Johannesburg Bushbaby population, to be destroyed” Alexander Frost Chairperson, Eco Culture Sechaba Foundation

The petition goal was to get 25,000 signatures but it has already surpassed that and is now well on the way to reaching the new goal of 50,000 signatures. Not only are people signing this petition, they are also donating money to the cause. 303 people have donated to the cause to help Susanna fight the people who want to destroy the habitat.

‘Bushbabies are one of the world’s smallest primates, measuring about 18 to 20cm and weighing from 140 to 280 grams, according to the African Wildlife Foundation. They are very vocal, making noises that sound like a baby crying. They are nimble, fast and can leap up to 6m.

The diminutive, nocturnal primates with oversized eyes used to roam freely over vast swaths of Johannesburg, but rapid and often disorganized urbanization has wreaked havoc on their habitat. Sadly, the last few bushbabies living in Fourways is facing the exact same fate…’

If you would like to support this petition, you can sign it here. If you would like to get more involved in saving the Fourways Bushbabies, you can contact the group on Facebook here.