Living in Betty’s Bay, one is blessed each day with wonderful sightings of our resident wildlife and birds, surrounded by gorgeous seascapes and mountains. On a morning walk through the Harold Porter Botanical Garden, you may come across our 23‑strong baboon troop going about their business, youngsters chattering and clambering in the leafy trees, elders keeping watch. Their interactions are cuteness personified.
On walks, jogs, and bicycle rides, you are surely captivated by the sight of sunbirds in every colour of the rainbow, Cape sugarbirds, chats, turtle doves, prinias, spurfowl, guineafowl, oystercatchers and penguins — just a few of the birds that call this place home. Mongooses streak across the road, while tortoises and chameleons move at a slower pace. The chorus of frogs rises from every corner of Betty’s Bay, accompanied by the melodious calls of more than 240 different bird species.
And then there are our resident grysbokkies — those graceful, shy antelope who often stand their ground just long enough for you to take in their beauty before they move delicately into the fynbos. It is impossible not to feel a sense of tenderness toward these gentle creatures.
Photos: Graeme McGregor Wayne Jackson
That is why the news on 27 June struck so heartbreakingly. Wayne Jackson reported that a bokkie had been killed by dogs. The little antelope was found on the property next to Crassula Hall. Wayne made it clear that he was not taking the incident lightly, and we are grateful to him for sounding the alarm: dogs must be kept inside their owners’ properties and must not roam off‑leash at night.
In the days that followed, several videos surfaced showing dogs being walked off‑leash. This prompted renewed awareness of the bylaw, which clearly states that dogs must be on a leash when being walked. The bylaws were shared across WhatsApp groups, accompanied by appeals for residents to be part of the solution – to help build a considerate, wildlife‑respecting community.
Since the incident, many residents have noticed a marked improvement: more dogs are being walked on‑leash, and fewer are seen roaming freely. In this sense, our bokkie’s death was not in vain. It has brought about greater awareness, greater responsibility, and a renewed commitment to protecting the wildlife that makes Betty’s Bay the amazing place it is.
Patrick Bolttler