Eighty-four vultures were recently rescued by a joint team of South African National Parks (SANParks) rangers and Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) officials following a devastating poisoning incident in the Kruger National Park.
The incident occurred in the Mahlangeni section of the park and was detected by the EWT’s pioneering wildlife poisoning surveillance and detection system.
A few hours after discovering the harsh reality
of a mass poisoning event involving hundreds of vultures, a joint SANParks and EWT team arrived on site.
Vultures play a crucial role in the environment ‒ they clean up after death, helping to keep ecosystems healthy and prevent the spread of disease.
According to a statement released by SANParks, the rescue mission followed the discovery of an elephant carcass laced with poison, laid by poachers to harvest body parts for the illegal wildlife trade.
“The incident is one of the largest seen in the park. A total of 116 vultures were found dead at the scene,” SANParks said in a statement.
It reported that the initial responders ‒ six SANParks rangers and two EWT officials‒found two vultures alive, but severely affected, roughly 500 metres from the poisoned elephant carcass.
SANParks added that support teams from the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Briner Veterinary Services and Wildscapes Veterinary Services were mobilised within hours, while SANParks activated ranger and aerial support, including the Hope for Wildlife helicopter and additional logistics support.
This was the first time SANParks helicopters were formally used in a wildlife poisoning rescue of this scale.
SANParks said a coordinated, high-intensity rescue effort was carried out.
“Eighty-four vultures, including White-backed, Cape, and Hooded Vultures, were rescued alive. Of these, 45 were transported by the EWT’s vulture ambulance, while 39 more were airlifted by helicopter to the SANParks K9 facility in Phalaborwa for immediate monitoring,” SANParks said.
It reported that five vultures succumbed to poisoning, with a 96% survival rate among those found alive.
SANParks added that this marks one of the largest vulture poisoning events in Southern Africa, and the most extensive coordinated response effort and rescue to date.
“Over 20 individuals across conservation, veterinary and enforcement sectors played a role in the rescue and response. Without rapid detection by the EWT’s wildlife poisoning detection and surveillance system, and the unprecedented cooperation between non-profit organisations, rangers, vets, and SANParks aerial and ranger units, many more birds would have been lost,” SANParks said.
The organisation raised concerns that poachers are increasingly using agricultural toxins to target high-value species, including vultures and lions, whose body parts are in growing demand for traditional medicine.
According to SANParks, the incident was a setback to the vulture population in the Greater Kruger Landscape, which is trying to recover from similar incidents in the past. SANParks is collaborating with various agencies
and institutions to address the current increase in poisoning incidents.
For more information about SANParks visit www.sanparks.org
This story and pictures was supplied by SANParks.
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