BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS: THE IMPORTANCE OF REMOVING FENCES FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Wild Tomorrow was thrilled to announce the acquisition of Sisonke Farm, a vital piece of land that serves as the keystone link between the two sections of our Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to protect and restore habitat for threatened wildlife. By removing Sisonke’s fences, we are restoring habitat connectivity and expanding wild spaces, creating hope for the long-term survival of the species that call Ukuwela home.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters perched on a reserve fence.

FENCES: UNNATURAL BARRIERS 

Fences are everywhere: they create boundaries for farms, delineate national borders, prevent the transmission of disease between livestock and wildlife, and designate property boundaries. They are one of the most widespread manmade structures on Earth, lacing across landscapes in rapidly spreading networks. While fences play a valuable role in wildlife conservation, particularly in the protection of endangered species and their habitats, and preventing human-wildlife conflict, they also pose significant threats.   

A 2020 meta-analysis in BioScience examined the ecological impact of fences, calling them ‘the wires that shape the world’. Their analysis found that fences affect ecosystems on every scale, from decreasing insect abundance, because they give spiders more ‘habitat’ to build webs, to blocking the long-distance migration of wildebeests and elephants.  

A Leopard tortoise sadly succumbed to its injuries after being electrocuted.

Fencing can directly cause wildlife mortality when animals collide with or are caught in fencing. Pangolins, a species of focus in our region, are particularly vulnerable to electric fencing. When pangolins are threatened, they roll into a tight ball, shielding their sensitive soft bellies. When they walk into an electrified fence strand, they immediately coil into a defensive ball around the wire, causing them to be shocked repeatedly, unable to escape. Dr Darren Pietersen, a leading pangolin researcher, said in a recent Mongabay news story that “South Africa loses between 1,000 and 2,000 pangolins each year to fence electrocutions. This far overshadows the number of individuals that are illegally poached and trafficked,”.

Indirect threats of fencing include the blocking of migration routes, the fragmentation of habitat, and changes in hunting by predators. For example, leopards at Ukuwela can use the fence to their advantage, to run their prey into a corner or barrier. Kevin Joliffe, our Reserve Manager, has seen nyala, impala and wildebeest caught against fence by the leopards of Ukuwela. By limiting wildlife movement, fences can also increase grazing pressure in certain areas, disrupt predator-prey dynamics, block movement that would allow wildlife to follow the rains to find food and water, and even lead to overpopulation of species within confined spaces.

Fences isolate populations, increasing the risk of inbreeding and reducing genetic diversity, which negatively impacts the long-term survival of the species. New research of wildebeest populations from Kenya to South Africa, found that the DNA of wildebeests that could still migrate was different and healthier than their non-migrating relatives. Another genetic consequence of isolated populations caused by fencing is the case of South African elephants at Addo National Park that have lost their tusks over several generations, caused by inbreeding.

THE HAZARDS OF FENCING AT SISONKE

The fences at Sisonke Farm were particularly hazardous, featuring excessive barbed wire and razor wire barriers that were installed by the prior owner. These types of fences not only trapped larger wildlife but also posed severe risks to smaller animals. A heartbreaking example is the fate of a red duiker caught in the wire, and a turtle that became caught on an electric strand of wildlife fencing, leading to its electrocution. Such incidents underscore the urgent need to remove these dangerous barriers.

The hazardous razor wire on the fences of Sisonke Farm that were thankfully removed by our amazing team of Rangers and Green Mambas.

THE BENEFITS OF REMOVING INTERNAL FENCES 

Removing internal fences will connect the landscape, allowing animals to move freely between the sections of our reserve. This increased movement of wildlife helps to maintain healthy ecosystems, as it enables species to access different habitats, find mates, and reduce overgrazing in localized areas. The removal of fences will also help restore natural predator-prey dynamics, allowing both predators and prey to behave more naturally. 

Expanding the reserve by connecting previously fragmented areas has many benefits for biodiversity. It provides wildlife with larger, more diverse habitats, which is essential for their survival in the face of climate change and other environmental pressures. By removing internal barriers, we are creating a more resilient ecosystem, one that can better withstand the challenges of a changing world. 

THE ROLE OF EXTERNAL FENCES

While we are committed to removing internal fences, we recognize the importance of maintaining external fences to protect the reserve’s boundaries. These fences play a crucial role in preventing human-wildlife conflict, reducing the spread of diseases between wildlife and livestock, and deterring poachers. However, even these fences should be designed with wildlife in mind, incorporating features that allow non-target animals to move freely and safely.

LOOKING AHEAD: EXPANDING OUR CONSERVATION EFFORT

The acquisition of Sisonke Farm and the removal of internal fences are a big step forward in our journey to create a regional wildlife corridor. Wild Tomorrow is committed to further expanding our protected areas, securing more land to ensure wildlife has the space it needs to thrive. By doing so, we are not only safeguarding the future of individual species but also protecting the intricate web of life that sustains us all. 

Removing barriers, both physical and metaphorical, is at the heart of our mission. By reconnecting fragmented habitats and giving wildlife the freedom to roam, we are building a world where nature can be restored. Together, with the support of our partners and community, we can help secure a wild tomorrow for all.

REFERENCES

Liu, et. al. “Introgression and disruption of migration routes have shaped the genetic integrity of wildebeest populations.” Nature Communications. April 12, 2024.

Cara Trivelly & Ellen Connelly (2 June 2022). Shocking levels of pangolin deaths from electric fences (commentary). Mongabay Environmental News.

Unnatural Barriers: How the Boom in Fences Is Harming Wildlife. (n.d.). Yale E360. https://e360.yale.edu/features/unnatural-barriers-how-the-rapid-rise-of-fences-is-harming-wildlife

Jakes, A. F., Jones, P. F., Paige, L. C., Seidler, R. G., & Huijser, M. P. (2018). A fence runs through it: A call for greater attention to the influence of fences on wildlife and ecosystems. Biological Conservation, 227, 310-318.

Alex McInturff, Wenjing Xu, Christine E Wilkinson, Nandintsetseg Dejid, Justin S Brashares, Fence Ecology: Frameworks for Understanding the Ecological Effects of Fences, BioScience, Volume 70, Issue 11, November 2020, Pages 971–985, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaa103