Stakeholders weigh in on elephant being euthanised in Matsulu
An elephant was recently put down in an effort to save it from the crowds that had formed around it and antagonising it. The head was retrieved with its ivory in accordance to the law, and the carcase with its meat was left for the community.
Over the weekend, social media was abuzz as the news of an elephant in the area being euthanised broke. Videos and pictures of the elephant were shared on various platforms. Community members could be seen chasing the elephant, while some appear to be holding various objects to throw at it.
This comes after the community of Matsulu had raised their concerns about these elephants from the Kruger National Park (KNP) roaming in their yards and through their streets on various occasions.
According to the KNP’s spokesperson, Ike Phaahla, it is important to note that once the animals leave the KNP, it is no longer the park’s responsibility. “In our province, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency [MTPA] then carry the responsibility, although we work closely together if there are things that need to be done. We work as a team with various stakeholders.”
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature hosts send-off for member of guard of honour
Phaahla said at about 05:00 on Saturday February 10, they had received a call from the MTPA, requesting assistance. “They needed a chopper, and we provided one. Then we worked together with them until they were done in Matsulu.”
Phaahla added that they had had a meeting with the community regarding the animals roaming in Matsulu.
“We have awareness campaigns we do to educate them, because we heard that some people throw fruits into the park. We have noticed that currently the public has moved too close to the park. We have people that have houses just about 100m away from the KNP fence. The fence was recently fixed, but we noticed that it was vandalised again, and that is why the animals manage to cross over to the community,” he explained.
Simphiwe Shungube, the MTPA’s spokesperson, said, “On the morning of February 10, the agency received a complaint of a vagrant elephant at Matsulu (Mandela Park). Social media was viral with videos and pictures of the Matsulu community chasing after the elephant. A team from the MTPA’s Damage-causing Animals [DCA] unit, led by Louw Steyn, was immediately dispatched. The DCA unit was reinforced by an aerial team of field rangers using a chopper from the Kruger National Park.”
Shungube said due to the heavy presence of community members chasing after the elephant and throwing objects at it, it became difficult to manage the situation.
“The HODs of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs as well as the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison further dispatched a team of police officers to manage the community members. The elephant was pushed onto an open field by the team where it was put down. The team successfully managed to retrieve the head of the elephant with its ivory in accordance to the law and left the carcase for the community,” he said.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga MEC for education urges schools to create fair school governing body elections
According to information received, a community member was injured as he was chasing the elephant. The Mpumalanga Department of Health’s spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, confirmed the injury and said the man was admitted to Rob Ferreira Hospital on Saturday, but that he had been discharged on Monday February 12.
Jacob Siboza, the chairperson of Matsulu and Ehlanzeni District CPF, said the public needs to consider that planting trees next to the KNP is not a good idea. “They plant trees and throw the fruits into the park, and this attracts the animals. We are aware that the fence is no longer in a good a state, but the community needs to admit that some of them play a role in this, because when these animals taste the fruits, they want more, and this leads to the fence getting damaged.”
Siboza said more awareness needs to be raised. “The relevant stakeholders must come together and create initiatives, because the community is now close to the KNP. They are not safe, and they need to know how to handle a situation when the animals escape.”
Siboza added that if everyone works together, they can save these animals for the sake of future generations.
