The vulture population in the Kruger National Park (KNP) is under dire threat as poachers poison these scavengers which are critical to the ecology of the park.
In a recent tragic incident between the Shingwedzi and Mopani Rest Camps, the remains of 86 vultures that had been poisoned by poachers were burned by rangers – a desperate measure to prevent further poisoning through the food chain.
Don English, regional manager of the KNP’s Nxianatseni region, said that over the past five years, the park has witnessed the deaths of nearly 2,000 vultures to poisoning, a move used by poachers to allow them to keep killing animals.
Vultures circle above recent kills and alert park rangers to poaching activities.
Poachers have begun poisoning the birds to hide their illegal hunts and many vultures fall victim to secondary poisoning from eating the carcasses of animals directly targeted by poachers.
English said only about eight pairs of vultures remain in his region of the park and warned that without immediate action, vultures could face extinction in the area within the next five years.
He called for stricter regulations on the sale of poisons and harsher penalties for poachers as essential measures to protect these crucial scavengers.
Pictured above: Dan English in a press conference.
Image source: Supplied
