The City is asking the public not to feed the geese at Rosendal Dam, in Bellville, because an overpopulation of bird life is causing a deterioration in the water quality.
The City is now planning to move the geese from the dam, in Hilary Street, according to mayoral committee member for community service and health Patricia van der Ross.
“The City is in a process to apply for a permit to capture and relocate the geese to a farm. The dam acts as a sump and with each rainfall, both nutrients and pollutants are washed into the dam. Once the warmer months set in and fresh rainwater decreases, the water quality deteriorates drastically.”
Feeding of waterfowl attracted larger numbers of bird life, exceeding the population the dam could support.
“This has a reinforcing effect on deteriorating water quality levels,“ she said, adding that increased bird excrement in the water could lead to botulism and fish deaths, and geese roaming the neighbourhood increased the risk of road accidents.