Second mass poisoning of vultures hits Kruger
Botha said carbofuran had been used during last year's poisoning and he suspected it was used during the latest incident too
SKUKUZA – A second mass poisoning has taken place in the Kruger National Park (KNP), claiming 110 of the critically endangered white-backed vultures, one elephant, two lions and two black-backed jackals.
This follows after an elephant, four lions, 46 white-backed vultures and a bateleur were poisoned in October last year. Both poisonings took place in the Vlakteplaas section of the park.
Also read: Elephant, 46 vultures and 4 lions killed for muti
The second discovery was made on Saturday. The elephant had gunshots to its head and the tusks were removed before poison was placed in the carcass. The vultures and jackals fed on the contaminated carcass and consequently died.
Mr André Botha, manager of Birds of Prey Programme at Endangered Wildlife Trust, told Lowvelder that this poisoning claimed 4,5 per cent of Kruger’s white-backed vulture population. “This is having a massive impact on the population,” he warned. Botha added that they had conducted an aerial survey of the white-backed vultures in the park last year and counted 900 nests. It is estimated that there are about 3 000 in the Kruger.
Botha said the reasons for these poisonings could be two-fold. The first and most obvious one would be for muti. Traditional healers believe that vulture heads give clairvoyant powers. “Also, rhino horn can be removed within 10 minutes. However, it takes up to two hours to remove elephant tusks. Vultures point rangers to carcasses and this would attract unwanted attention to poachers. Eliminating vultures would enable them to complete the ‘job’ undisturbed,” he explained.
Botha said carbofuran had been used during last year’s poisoning and he suspected it was used during the latest incident too. “Carbofuran is similar to temic (two-step) and a very fast-acting poison. It would definitely pose a threat to humans who were to use the contaminated vultures for muti,” he warned.
Botha added yesterday that rangers were still busy cleaning and clearing the scene. “They have to be very thorough. Poisoned animals often vomit pieces of the contaminated meat before dying. They have to sweep the area very carefully and collect all these samples to prevent other incidents of poisoning. All contaminated carcasses will have to be burnt.”
Mr Glenn Phillips, managing executive of the KNP, said in a media statement, “It seems poachers have resorted to wildlife poisoning in national parks and other protected areas in southern Africa and we are devastated by these latest mortalities of our wildlife. Wildlife poisoning is not only a threat to our biodiversity assets, but a single incident can affect hundreds of species; thus cutting their life short and diminishing their ecological role.”
He thanked SANParks’ anti-poaching teams for their quick response as the outcome could have been worse, had they had detected the situation late.
“Although poisoning has occurred at a low level in the country in recent history, it is a real problem in our neighbouring countries such as Mozambique and Zimbabwe. A joint operation with all relevant government security structures as well as our neighbouring counterparts; in particular those bordering the far northern part of the park wherein there is a spate of elephant poaching, requires tough regulatory measures to prevent wildlife poisoning and poaching,” Phillips said.
Botha concurred, “Credit must go to the SANParks members for their rapid reaction once the incident was discovered. Had it not been for this intervention, the scale of loss could have been far worse. Well done to the section ranger, his field rangers and other staff involved in managing the incident under very unpleasant circumstances.
“I have no doubt that the culprits will be brought to book regardless of where they may be based.”
