Elephant Management and Poaching in South Africa

[Richprins]

[Scipio]

There are some historical hunting concessions with in Kruger, one was nearly re-opened about 5 years ago in Makuleke. Just an interesting fact, nothing to do with current discussion.

And there has been elephant found to be poached in Kruger lately.

[Richprins]

Ja, I don't think there is hunting along the Mahonie Loop!

But as said, we might as well be prepared and start this thread so long....can maybe merge it with the "ellie poaching in SA" one later!

[Richprins]

Not a big elephant, carcass a few days old, and lower jaw remains!

[Scipio]

If you can post a pic I know a person that knows some about the forensic side of poaching that I can ask.

[Richprins]

Will see if I can get one!

[Flutterby]

Emergency declared as elephant poached
2015-07-27 15:27
Don Pinnock


Johannesburg - An emergency was declared as the first elephant was poached on the western border of Kruger National Park.

Each day in Africa around 100 elephants die at the hands of poachers. Almost all the killing has occurred beyond the borders of South Africa but, as the escalating slaughter of rhinos in Kruger National Park shows, when the ivory poachers move south they could be unstoppable.

For this reason, when a dead snared elephant with its tusks removed was found in Balule Game Reserve on the western border of Kruger last Thursday, everyone scrambled.

‘We had the Air Force, the Parks Board and Balule’s Black Mambas anti-poaching unit there really fast,’ said Craig Spencer, director of Transfrontier Africa.

‘There were 35 people on the ground and we did an autopsy on the spot. The Parks Board is absolutely petrified this could start an ivory market in the area, so we have to get our hands on that ivory fast. We don’t want to alert the community to the value of poaching elephants.’

Last Wednesday, Balule’s camera traps detected three men crossing the boundary from communal lands to the north of the reserve. Early the next morning a Black Mamba patrol came across their campfire and evidence of a hasty departure. They followed their trail backwards and found the elephant that had been snared by a cable and had its face cut off with a hacksaw.

‘The autopsy found no bullet wounds,’ said Spencer, ‘and the snare had been set on a trail frequented by elephants and buffalo. Whether or not the catch was incidental, the poachers knew the value of ivory and those tusks are going to make their way into the market. I don’t think this was a hit commissioned by a buyer so they’ll have to fish around to sell and we have informers. That ivory is going to surface somewhere.’

One of the drivers of elephant poaching, said Spencer, is the poverty surrounding elephant sanctuaries. Even if they legalised trade and it lowered the price, it’s still worthwhile for poor people to poach horn or ivory.

‘Another problem is that north of Balule it’s state land and there’s zero control. No presence of law enforcement or conservation management. Limpopo Province just isn’t organised to deal with this stuff.'

This article was distributed by the Conservation Action Trust and is used with their permission.

[Alf]

[Richprins]

The locusts are coming.

[Amoli]

Here is a report of elephant poaching posted by Glen Thompson

WTF!!!! 19 ELEPHANTS KILLED BY POACHERS IN THE KNP
Kruger National Park (KNP) has lately become a target for elephant poaching, with 19 elephants killed since January; and 12 of those in September and October 2015.











Lesego Nko's photo.

‎Lesego Nko‎ to SANParks
56 mins · Edited


19 ELEPHANTS KILLED BY POACHERS IN THE KNP

Kruger National Park (KNP) has lately become a target for elephant poaching, with 19 elephants killed since January; and 12 of those in September and October 2015.

“We are saddened by the latest developments in the northern part of the Park where the majority of the elephants were poached so far. We lost two elephants at the beginning of this year then it went silent for four months until July when three elephants were poached. This was followed by another two in August, seven in September and then five this month; which brings the total number of elephants poached this year to 19”, said General Manager: Communications & Marketing, William Mabasa.

South African National Parks (SANParks) expressed its shock at the first confirmed elephant poaching incident in the KNP in well over 10 years in May 2014 at Pafuri section of the Park. The KNP lost 2 elephants the whole of last year.

“Given the situation in the rest of the continent pertaining to widespread poaching of elephants, we cannot allow this destabilization of our keystone species to continue further. We are confident that the dedication and efforts which our rangers and partners in the security sector have displayed towards the fight against rhino will prevail over this latest problem”, concluded Mabasa.

… Ends

Issued by
South African National Parks: Communications & Marketing Department – Kruger National Park.

Media enquiries either:
Reynold Thakhuli: Acting Head of Communications – SANParks. Contact: Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999; Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org

OR

William Mabasa, GM: Communications & Marketing, Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919 or email: william.mabasa@sanparks.org