Fire teams sent to Ethiopia

South Africa will make available a 29-member team to Ethiopia to help in efforts to bring under control about 200 fires that have been raging in the 2,200-square km Bale Mountains National Park since early February, media reports said. The park, home to three critically endangered mammals and 16 endangered bird species, has already lost 20,000 hectares of virgin lowland and Afro-montane mist and cloud forest to the fire. The park also accommodates 200 of Ethiopia’s 400 wolves. The reports said South Africa is sending 29 people, a Cessna 206 fire-spotting plane and 2 mt of fire-fighting equipment at a cost of US $75,000. Six South African fire-fighters have been in Addis Ababa since last week as part of an international committee, said the reports, adding that a further 21, who include four pilots, were to leave for Ethiopia at the weekend.