Staff from the George eco-furniture factory (co-funded by SANParks) is heading to Gough Island this week to reconstruct a hut as part of a mouse eradication programme.
Proud manager of the team, Emile Mopp is excited about his team’s work. ‘The hut was built as per instruction by Dr Guy Preston and national team to assist the Island. It was then transported to the Waterfront in Cape Town where it stayed for 6 months. It was dismantled recently to be transported by the Agulhas 2 to the Island’ explains Mopp.
Mopp’s team will be dropped off with portions of the hut to reconstruct to the benefit of Gough Island.
According to the South African National Antarctic Programme (online), Gough Island is located at 40°S, 9°W, 2600 km from East Pier, Cape Town Harbour.
South Africa has a weather research station situated in Gough Island which was established in 1956. This weather office, managed by the Department of Environmental Affairs, is similar to stations in South Africa with climate observations every hour.
Large mice are killing seabird chicks on the Island threatening rare species populations.
Image from left to right: Etien Titus, Allister Camfer, Erwin supplier, Andrew Pailman, Willie Hannies, Roneo Erasmus
S. A. Agulhas II is a South African research ship owned by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The ship was designed in 2012 for scientific research and supply South African research stations in the Antarctic.
