Elephants that Escape from Kruger

[Richprins]

Community members voice their concerns about elephants roaming freely in Matsulu


The locals insist that a permanent solution to the free-roaming elephants is what is needed in Matsulu C.
2 hours ago Bridget Mpande





An elephant next to the fence. Photo: Supplied
In the past few weeks, there had been reports of elephants roaming freely in Matsulu C, and the community members say they live in fear.

According to them, if the elephants are chased back into the neighbouring Kruger National Park (KNP) from where they are claimed to have originated, they just return again afterwards.


On Wednesday January 31, some community members said that on the night before, they had spotted the elephants again roaming the streets of Matsulu C. They forwarded photos and videos to the newspaper. These animals had apparently trampled through a fence, out of the KNP, and invaded the neighbourhood.




Jacob Siboza, the chairperson of Matsulu and Ehlanzeni District CPF, said they stayed up throughout the night due to the roaming elephants. “The community called us again and said the elephants are back. The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency [MTPA] sent out a team to chase them away, however, due to the damaged fence, they came back. The community is scared of what might happen and they lack the knowledge on how to handle the situation. I feel they need an awareness programme that can help them understand elephants. We want our grandkids to be able to see elephants and know them in the future, so it is important that they are well taken care of,” he said.




Siboza said he would like to urge the community that lives next to the KNP to avoid planting fruits. “The fruit trees attract the animals, and once an elephant tastes a mango, it always goes back for more.”

A community member, John Sithole, told the newspaper that they now live in fear of the elephants attacking them and they need help because they keep coming back. “We contacted the MTPA and KNP because our homes are no longer safe for us and our kids. A permanent solution is what we need,” he said.

In a statement on Tuesday, the MTPA had said the reported four elephants had been spotted in Matsulu C (Sibuyile Section) have been pushed back into the KNP (Stolznek section). On Wednesday, the MTPA’s spokesperson, Simphiwe Shungube, said they had dispatched another team to assess the situation.



“Every time the community calls us, we immediately respond by sending a team to assist. We have been doing that since the day they started calling us, raising their concerns. The team was there on Tuesday and they are there today.”

According to the KNP’s spokesperson, Ike Phaahla, they have provided the necessary assistance as was required by the Matsulu community. “We have notified the state veterinarian, as the fence is their responsibility. The colleagues from the MTPA responded immediately and assisted in chasing the animals back into the park.”

https://www.citizen.co.za/lowvelder/new ... 8pUCfuSeXI

[Lisbeth]

“We have notified the state veterinarian, as the fence is their responsibility.

Sounds strange ......and even if, it would take no time for KNP to repair the fence. Typical attitude of state employees

[Richprins]

Parks agency says it is monitoring the situation of free-roaming animals in Matsulu


The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) said the community should report it to relevant stakeholders if they come across free-roaming wild animals.
20 hours ago
Bridget Mpande

Following another elephant that was seen roaming the Sibuyile Section in Matsulu on Monday February 19, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) said it is monitoring the situation.

The elephant had escaped from the Kruger National Park (KNP) and roamed about in the yards, from about 20:00 to 02:00.



Simphiwe Shungube, the MTPA’s spokesperson, said: “The MTPA is monitoring the situation. Such incidents must be reported to the authorities. The fence breaks are reported to the state veterinary, who are responsible for the maintenance of it. The MTPA is the issuing authority and manages complaints outside of parks.”
When asked if there is a long-term plan, Shungube said: “The long-term plan is that the fence is being repaired and upgraded by the relevant department.”

He added that members of the community are requested to report these incidents to the authorities such as the MTPA, the SAPS and CPFs for proper handling.

“The contact persons are Steyn Louw on 083 626 6792 and Nomcebo Kunene on 072 661 6718,” said Shungube.



According to the KNP’s spokesperson, Ike Phaahla, they have scheduled a meeting with all stakeholders to find a lasting solution and will communicate the outcome. Phaahla said once the animals leave the KNP, it is no longer the park’s responsibility, and the MTPA then carries the responsibility.

https://www.citizen.co.za/mpumalanga-ne ... XU7yIjYvpk

[Lisbeth]

If poachers keep breaking the fence, It is not easy to keep up with the repairs

[RogerFraser]

https://www.barrons.com/news/six-elepha ... s_afp-news

Six Elephants Escape S.Africa's Kruger National Park

Six elephants have escaped a renowned South African park through a river on Wednesday, the park said as it struggled to get the giant animals to return.

"We can confirm that six elephants escaped" from Kruger National Park, a tourist magnet bordering Mozambique, said Ike Phaahla, a spokesman for South African National Parks (SANparks).

The animals escaped "through the river as the water is low at this time of the year", he told AFP.

The park initially tried to drive the elephants back using a helicopter, but a large crowd of community members blocked the animals from returning, he said.

As a result "the situation turned dangerous", Phaahla said, adding that law enforcement officials had been alerted for assistance.

"As soon as the situation is under control, they will attempt again to get the elephants back into the park," he said.

Elephants that have escaped protected parks and reserves in Africa have at times been slaughtered by residents for their meat.

[Lisbeth]

I wonder how much they tried. Did they call the police?

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
@LatestKruger
6:28am
1 Elephant stationary
R536, outside the park between Phabeni and Paul Kruger
Near Leopard Sands
5/5
Tinged by Estelle
6:37 AM · Oct 11, 2024

[Lisbeth]

Maybe someone should control the fence

[Richprins]

Not Kruger, but the same thing!



Jumbo feeding frenzy as elephant killed by wildlife authority for safety
By LWAZI HLANGU - 23 January 2025 - 14:15

Several Nongoma residents cut into an elephant killed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife after the animal injured itself.



Image: SUPPLIED

Nongoma residents in northern KwaZulu-Natal went on a feeding frenzy after an elephant was killed by wildlife officials on Wednesday.

The elephant was one of six that reportedly escaped from the nearby Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) on Tuesday and was sighted in the Vuna area.

Late that afternoon, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife responded to the reports by sending an official to verify the sighting.


“The report was confirmed but due to fading daylight it was decided that efforts to guide the elephants back into the game reserve would start the next day using a helicopter,” said spokesperson Musa Mntambo.

The elephants moved from the area overnight and made their way towards the eMasokaneni region.

“On Wednesday adverse weather conditions grounded the Ezemvelo helicopter, prompting the deployment of a chopper from Heligistix.”

He confirmed five of the six elephants were successfully guided back to the game reserve during the operation. The remaining elephant appeared to be injured and a decision to destroy it was taken “for safety reasons as well as the wellbeing of the elephant”.

“Upon learning of the destroyed elephant, members of the community gathered at the scene and began harvesting its meat,” he said.

In a video taken from the scene and shared on social media on Thursday, people could be seen skinning the animal.

As the residents removed the skin, a voice could be heard in the background asking: “Where is the trunk? It’s gone within two minutes.”

Mntambo said they leave the trunk for community members to feast on but they are legally required to remove parts such as the tusks and tail.

“Ezemvelo does not object to community members using the meat of an animal destroyed under such circumstances, provided all parts required by law for conservation and management purposes are first removed,” he said.

“However, we appeal to the community to refrain from recording and sharing videos or images of such incidents on social media. Such posts may create a negative perception of the province and Ezemvelo.”

Meanwhile, the wildlife authority is still on the lookout for three lions, also in northern KZN, that escaped from an unidentified enclosure last week.

At the weekend Mntambo said there had been three confirmed sightings of the lions in the Gluckstadt area in Abaqulusi municipality.

Ezemvelo dispatched two teams — one made up of Ezemvelo officials and another led by a private professional hunter — to search for the animals. A helicopter has also been dispatched.

The lions have reportedly killed at least three cattle and Ezemvelo has warned communities to be vigilant and report sightings amid concerns about the safety of residents and livestock.

He said they will only know where the lions escaped from once they are destroyed.

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2025 ... e_vignette

[Lisbeth]

Fences, fences! Control the fences, what the heck!