Buffalo culling clarified
The post stated that a herd of both adult and juvenile buffalo was shot because Ezemvelo had insufficient funds to translocate the animals to the uMkhuze Game Reserve
AFTER a post on a wildlife social media group gained traction and condemnation among conservation groups, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has responded, explaining the reason behind the recent culling of 32 buffalo.
The post stated that a herd of both adult and juvenile buffalo was shot because Ezemvelo had insufficient funds to translocate the animals to the uMkhuze Game Reserve.
The post accused Ezemvelo of having underspent their allocated funds and that the animals had been held in the game capture centre at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP).
‘Ezemvelo annually approves the type and number of species that should be removed from a particular game reserve as part of population control within that reserve,’ said Ezemvelo spokesperson, Musa Mntambo.
‘Ezemvelo uses three methods to dispose of these ‘excess’ animals, including translocation, selling the animals on auction or culling them.
‘The 32 buffalo in question were part of 90 animals that had been identified for removal from the Eastern Shores Game Reserve in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in terms of our animal population control programme.
‘A portion was originally allocated for game sales but, as is required by national legislation, they had to be tested for TB before being offered for sale.
‘Unfortunately, two of them tested positive.
‘This necessitated the removal of the 32 from the list of animals that were to be auctioned.’
He said the translocation of the animals would have cost R3 000 in diesel, which the organisation could well afford, but the decision was taken to cull them rather than return them to Eastern Shores owing to the compromised status of the animals’ health.
‘The culling of game is undertaken by experienced rangers who are required to undergo annual mandatory training in firearm use.
‘Carcasses are tested by meat inspectors and the state vets as prescribed by the Meat Safety Act before the meat is sold to the community.
‘If any kind of sickness is found, the condemned part is removed and burnt, and only the part not infected by TB is sold to the community.
‘This process is a legislated process and all abattoirs are required to adhere to it.’
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