Pikitup supports Johannesburg City Parks' drive to
ensure the survival of a rare butterfly species
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Johannesburg’s waste management company, Pikitup, is geared to work with Johannesburg City Parks to ensure the survival of one of the rarest species of butterfly in South Africa.
The Roodepoort Copper Butterfly is listed on the South African Red Data Butterfly Book as ‘Vulnerable’, which falls under the threatened category. The species is endemic only to the Ruimsig area of Roodepoort, and can be found in the Ruimsig Entomological Reserve. The rapid urbanisationin the area and the introduction of alien plant life pose a possible threat to the butterfly’s habitat and, ultimately, its survival.
Pikitup is fully supportive of Johannesburg City Park’s role in the community as a custodian of the reserve, as part of the overall commitment in ensuring the survival of this species.
The company together with Johannesburg City Parks is on a quest to ensure that the threat to the species’ survival is significantly decreased. Both companies have adopted a holistic approach towards creating environmentally friendly and clean areas throughout the City, of which the Ruimsig Entomological Reserve is one.
Says Jenny Moodley, Spokesperson of Johannesburg City Parks. “Because developments are taking over large areas of natural veld, the habitat of this rare and endangered species has come under extreme pressure. Securing the butterfly’s survival has become a matter of urgency.”
Pikitup’s pioneering spirit is evident in its participation of projects such as this. Although its core business is waste removal and cleaning up the area surrounding the reserve, providing bins or bags, on occasion; the company believes that a holistic approach should be applied to environmental management in this community.
The reserve forms part of an Eco-Tourism drive in the Western areas of Johannesburg. It is situated in a region that boasts the Cradle of Humankind, SterkfonteinCavesand the CrocodileValley. As the City focuses more of its attention on this potential revenue earner, the Ruimsig area will form an important component in its future strategies for 2010 and beyond.
“The surrounding community is keen to preserve its natural heritage. Our close relationship supporting the role of City Parks with the Ruimsig Entomological Reserve, allows us to share in that passion. At the same time we would like to encourage education and environmental awareness in the area” says Roelf de Beer from Pikitup. “To Pikitup this is simply an extension of the service delivery excellence we all strive to provide to the communities we serve.” |
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The Roodepoort Copper Butterfly was discovered in December 1963 by W. Henning and his sons, Stephen and Graham, and is recognisedby its unique markings on the underside of its wings with deep crimson groundcolouron thehind wing, which is outlined in black. It shares a distinctively symbiotic relationship with a particular species of ant. The ants care for its caterpillar, carrying it to its host plant and protecting it from its enemies. The caterpillar even pupates inside the ants’ nest.
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Jenny Moodley Johannesburg City Parks
Fax: (011) 339 2692 E-Mail: jmoodley@jhbcityparks.com |
Roelf de Beer Pikitup Johannesburg (Pty) Ltd
E-Mail: roelfdebeer@pikitup.co.za
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Slawek Justyniarski Meropa Communications Tel: (011) 772 1005 Cell: 082 432 9735 E-mail: slawek@meropa.co.za
01/08/2005 |
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