'Zen stone stacks' on Table Mountain. Please, stop! – viral Facebook post

Clarence Ford speaks to Barbara Friedman about trending online topics.

(Skip to 7:41 for this story.)

A member of the Facebook group 'Friends of Table Mountain' shared a photo that sent the comments section into a frenzy.

The person took a picture after seeing 'zen stone stacks on the mountain again' and explained to the group why they were not a good idea. 

The Facebook user explained in the post that these 'zen stone stacks' can cause fires, harm animals, negatively impact the environment and cost people their lives.

SANParks has also published articles on the issue over the years: 'The problem with rock stacking: why it’s harmful to nature and should be avoided.'

"Moving rocks and stacking them can disturb the natural habitat of tiny creatures. On the rocky shore, these organisms, such as crabs, molluscs, and algae, depend on their environment’s rocks and other structures for shelter and protection. By moving or stacking rocks, we may inadvertently destroy or disrupt their homes, harming their populations. Similarly, rock stacking can also have adverse terrestrial impacts on insects and moss in wilderness areas," reads the article.

Yet, it seems mountaingoers are not listening.

"Please don't stack stones. It's not good for the environment... It's not necessary. Maybe stack them in your garden is the suggestion."

- Barbara Friedman

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.