Zeekoevlei anaconda infestation claims are 'fake news'
. A fake video of a green anaconda was shared widely.
Image: screenshot
CITY of Cape Town deputy mayor Eddie Andrews insists there are no anacondas innie Kaap.
Videos of the massive snakes have been widely shared on social media and WhatsApp groups.
In one video, a huge slang can be seen lying in the grass on the bank of the lake, before gliding off into the water.
In another clip, a ‘news alert” claims that 500 of the South American slange are living and breeding in Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve.
It further stated that the City of Cape Town had declared a state of emergency around the vlei and that access to the reserve was restricted.
In response to this, Andrews, the Mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment, said it was fake news and warned the public against sharing the clips.
He said: “Reports circulating on WhatsApp and certain websites claiming that there is an anaconda infestation at Zeekoevlei are false. There are no green anacondas in Zeekoevlei, no declared ecological emergency, no evacuations and no confirmed sightings.
“The articles attributed to three local media websites are fabricated.
“The public is urged not to share unverified posts and to rely on official City of Cape Town public notices for alerts and information.”
In the fabricated post, it stated the following: “In a shocking development that has sent panic through the Southern Suburbs, authorities have confirmed the presence of more than 500 green anacondas actively breeding in Zeekoevlei, the largest freshwater lake in the region.
"The non-native constrictors, native to South American swamps and river systems, appear to have established a thriving population in the shallow, nutrient-rich waters of Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve.
“Early estimates from wildlife response teams place the number at over 500 individuals, with dozens of breeding pairs observed coiled among the reeds.”
It went on to quote a “local resident” and “an expert” on the matter, providing dramatic details, like the “invasion” may “stem from illegal exotic pet releases”.
The expert added: “Anacondas thrive in slow-moving, vegetation-choked waters – conditions Zeekoevlei provides in abundance.
“It also claimed the city had declared a state of ecological emergency and that a team was utilising drones and boats to conduct a survey."