Surviving Fire:

Animal Survivors

Many animals that live in Fynbos and Renosterveld are also adapted to survive fires. In the past, many large animals like buck would have escaped by running away from the fire to unburned areas. Today many natural areas are small and surrounded by fences, so animals are often trapped and killed as they try to escape.

Many small Fynbos animals like mice, molerats and snakes are unable to run away from fire. Some of these have underground burrows where they can escape from the flames.

Breeding time

• Indigenous tortoises time their breeding to avoid the main fire season.

• The Padloper and Geometric Tortoises lay their eggs in Spring and early Summer in a hole in the ground. The eggs hatch in Autumn, after the main fire season. If adult tortoises are killed in a Summer fire, the eggs will be protected.

• Baby tortoises do not need parental care as they are independent as soon as they hatch. The eggs of Padloper Tortoises most often hatch when it is overcast or wet.

• Many Fynbos birds also breed during Winter and early Spring. By the time Summer comes and the risk of fire increases, the young birds are able to fly.