The 19th running of the Bonitas Sunday Tribune Mont-Aux-Sources Trail Run took place on the 7th of September 2013, also International Vulture Awareness day, a day which aims to publicise the conservation of vultures to a wider audience. The relevance of this is funds raised through the Mont-Aux-Sources Challenge are used to monitor and safeguard the Bearded Vulture in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage site. Runners were privileged to have magnificent views of Bearded Vulture’s flying and landing at Witsieshoek along the route, a fitting tribute to the runners and the event.
Eric Ngubane conquered this event, in an unbelievable time of 4 hours and 39 minutes, while Tracy Zunckle took it home for the women, in a time of 5 hours and 33 minutes – also 6th overall. The biggest winner of the day was Gillian Barker from Australia who raised R24 000 for conservation. John Stark also made a huge contribution to boost funds for the critically endangered Bearded Vulture and ran his 17th Mont – Aux – Sources Challenge this year!
2 days before the event, the Mont – Aux – Sources ‘Big Day Out’ took place, involving 102 learners from 6 different schools just outside the Royal Natal National Park. Sponsored by N3TC, Bonitas Medical Fund, Old Mutual and Coca-Cola, the Big Day Out aims to give learners an opportunity to spend a day within the National Park (often a first for a lot of the children) and get an opportunity to learn more about the environment, endangered species – such as the Bearded Vulture – and take part in interesting environmental activities.
The top 6 learners (3 boys and 3 girls) that took part in a “mini fun run” challenge won beautiful, bright red Coca – Cola bicycles, which they all exclaimed would give them transport to school. The 18 educators that joined the learners, all took part in a ‘’On the Money’’ workshop, presented by Old Mutual. All the participants were also given backpacks filled with fun, educational goodies.
The Wild Series events are renowned for being professional sporting events, and raising significant funds for conservation projects around the country. In partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the Mont-Aux-Sources Challenge funds are allocated to the monitoring of Bearded Vulture through the fitting of satellite transmitters, providing amazing detail in their movement patterns throughout the year. In addition, in partnership with N3TC, a vulture hide has been constructed at Cathedral Peak, which will be used for scientific research, as well as allowing the public to experience vultures at close range. Bearded Vultures are listed as “critically endangered,” numbering approximately only 350 individuals, and require significant conservation support. The hosting of the Mont-Aux-Sources Challenge by Wildlands, Bonitas Medical Fund, Sunday Tribune and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife will continue to provide a much-needed boost for the conservation efforts of this iconic species of the Drakensberg Mountains.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)