Africa Wild

Regrettably, elephant poaching is also on the increase. A total of 58 elephants were poached in the Kruger National Park between 1 January and 31 August 2018. Specific risk areas have been identified and strategies to address the threat are being adapted and implemented.

https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarel ... tionofISMR

This was predicted quite a few years ago, when the elephant poaching was getting "hot" in other parts of Africa.

SANPARKS CONCERNED BY RISE IN ELEPHANT POACHING IN KNP



KATLEHO SEKHOTHO - 9 days ago

JOHANNESBURG - The South African National Parks (SANParks) says its concerned about the increase in elephant poaching in the Kruger National Park.

According to SANParks, 58 elephants have been killed so far this year compared to 32 killed last year.

It says efforts are being made to strengthen anti-poaching measures for both rhinos and elephants.

Spokesperson Ike Phaahla says 184 poaching suspects have been arrested this year.

“In terms of arrests, we have 184 suspects who are facing various charges and those cases are in court as we speak, and in those arrests, we’ve managed to confiscate 92 high-powered hunting rifles."

(Edited by Mihlali Ntsabo)

I wonder what happens to all the rifles?

If something is confiscated by the police here, it will be put on auction after the trial (guilty), but I wouldn't know about weapons and certainly, I do not know what they do in SA

Another aspect resulting from poaching

A week ago, a former colleague of mine who still lives in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park was on his way home when he spotted a tiny elephant calf alone. Realising that something was wrong, he called us, WILD VET, to investigate.

There was no sign of the herd that had been seen there the day before and we quickly worked out what had probably happened. An interaction between would-be poachers and the anti-poaching team had taken place, with all the associated noise and helicopter activity. The breeding elephant herd would have panicked and fled - but this tiny baby wasn't quick enough and got left behind.

Time is absolutely critical with such young elephants and we still do not have the correct formula to properly replace their unique mother's milk. The best chance for survival includes being cared for in a facility with highly experienced carers and ideally with other elephants for company. (They are such incredibly complex animals!). The best such facility, which also happened to have a similarly young orphaned elephant under the care of my friend, wildlife vet Dr Peter Rogers, is the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre at Kapama in Limpopo province. And so a long distance emergency rescue was launched, with one of the centre's managers driving through the night to collect the youngster. Every hour counts to save a life like this and the first few days after the rescue is touch and go. We are so relieved to hear that she is still strong and thriving a week later, thanks to everyone's combined efforts. In the last photo, she is looking very settled and cosy with her new ellie friend and carer!

http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/projec ... onal-park/

28 January 2019, 9:32 PM | Liela Magnus |



Elephant poaching has increased from two elephants in 2014 to 71 in 2018.
SanParks has launched Project Ivory in Phalaborwa in Limpopo to combat elephant poaching in the Kruger National Park. Chief Ranger, Nicholas Funda says although elephant poaching has increased from two elephants in 2014 to 71 in 2018, they are still on top of the situation.

“It’s not like it’s getting out of control, we are handling it, but poachers never, never give up and they don’t relax. They will keep on coming up with new tactics and we are also catching up; we are always ready.”


Kruger National Park
@SANParksKNP
· Jan 28, 2019
Replying to @SANParksKNP
"We cannot as a country allow poachers to control elephant numbers, hence we're calling for your support." - Chief Ranger, Nick Funda #ProjectIvory #LiveYourWild


Kruger National Park
@SANParksKNP
"It becomes very much important for us to become part of this project. We need to mobilize our communities in support of these initiatives." - MEC for the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Seaparo Sekoati #ProjectIvory #LiveYourWild pic.twitter.com/Tqzn1n3eTo

8
12:38 PM - Jan 28, 2019


There are 19 000 elephants in the Kruger National Park. Funda says they increase with about 4% a year, which relates to 760 elephants, so the elephant population is not on the decline due to poaching.

“What we are concerned with is criminality; we cannot allow criminals to harvest or to steal from the public. That’s our mandate; we are mandated to protect that. I think elephant poaching is going to be ugly. Elephants are easy to see. And if it get out of hand it will be difficult to control. Therefore to be pro-active is critical for us.”

To support Project Ivory, the Honorary Rangers gave SanParks tracker dogs for the northern part of the park. They also sponsor the first-ever horse unit, which consists of seven horses. Derick Mashale, the regional ranger where the horses are deployed, says the horses can travel further and faster than humans.

“They are quite when they walk through the bushes and you got the height and advantage as well to be able to see. Furthermore, horses are animals and you can get closer to the game without the game reacting, but of importance is that you can cover long distances in a shorter space of time.”

A Cessna airplane was moved from Skukuza and will be stationed at Phalaborwa. The support infrastructure was donated by the Honourary Rangers. Pilot Jaco Moll says by having aircraft at Phalaborwa, it cuts their response time in half.

“What we hoping to achieve with this Phalaborwa base is to increase our capacity and our support for operations in the north of the park with the increase of elephant poaching in the north, the demand for aerial support has increased exponentially. That will also enable us to create a greater presence in the sky over northern Kruger.”

Funda says before the launch of the project, their resources were split in two between the south where rhino are being poached and the north where the elephants are poached. Most of the elephant poachers come from Mozambique. Funda also says they suspect the elephant poachers are rhino poachers who moved north.


Kruger National Park
@SANParksKNP
· Jan 28, 2019
Replying to @SANParksKNP
Brent Wilkins handing over the John Deere Gator all-terrain vehicle to Nick Funda. #ProjectIvory #LiveYourWild


Kruger National Park
@SANParksKNP
International cricketer, Kevin Pietersen has raised R3 million towards the Forward Looking Infrared System to help with anti-poaching initiatives. #ProjectIvory #LiveYourWild @KP24 pic.twitter.com/li361BFa1n

18
12:13 PM - Jan 28, 2019

Kruger National Park

@SANParksKNP
4h4 hours ago
More
#ProjectIvory continues. Bull elephant carcass found in the Punda Maria area.

Interesting! Roger.

I think there are a lot more than 19000 elephant...