SOUTH AFRICA: Six Animals Killed By Electrocution In Kruger National Park

Six large animals have died at South Africa's biggest national park after storms toppled a power cable.

A rhino, a giraffe, two lions and two hyenas were electrocuted when the power line came down in Kruger National Park.

The giraffe and rhino died first, and the lions and hyenas were killed by the live wire while trying to eat the carcasses.

Rangers came across the disturbing scene while taking engineers to the site to restore electricity.

Isaac Phaahla, a spokesman for South Africa National Parks (SANParks), said the animals died last Friday in the Skukuza section of the park.

Kruger National Park rangers discovered the animals while accompanying electricians

The animals were electrocuted after heavy rains and strong winds brought down a power line, he said.

At almost 20,000 sq km (7,700 sq miles), the Kruger National Park is the country's largest wildlife reserve.

On Tuesday, a spokesman told reporters the park had reports of four other dead animals in January so far. Two of them have been confirmed as poached, and two of them are under investigation, he said.

Meanwhile, South African lions chewed a poacher, leaving just his head

A suspected big cat poacher was eaten by lions near the Kruger National Park in South Africa, police say.

The animals left little behind, but some body parts were found at a game park near Hoedspruit.

It seems the victim was poaching in the game park when he was attacked and killed by lions, Limpopo police spokesman Moatshe Ngoepe said.

They ate his body, nearly all of it, and just left his head and some remains.

Police have not yet established the victim's identity. A loaded hunting rifle and ammunition were found next to the body.

Lion poaching has been on the rise in Limpopo province in recent years.

The big cats' body parts are sometimes used in traditional medicine, both within Africa and beyond.

Wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation says lion bones and other body parts are increasingly sought-after in South East Asia, where they are sometimes used as a substitute for tiger bones.

In January 2017, three male lions were found poisoned in Limpopo with their paws and heads cut off.

Also, Lions killed in South Africa after escaping Kruger reserve

Three lions which had escaped from a world famous game reserve in South Africa have been killed.

A farmer living near Kruger National Park (KNP) shot dead one of the males when he found all three eating one of his cows, a parks spokeswoman said.

He wounded another and a third ran away.

A search party of rangers decided to put down the wounded lion and the one which had escaped the farmer, Ms Raftopoulos said.

South African National Parks says the unharmed lion was killed because tasting cattle meat would change its behaviour.

There were also concerns that having already escaped once, the lion would keep trying to leave the park.

The decision is made by vets and rangers with years and years of experience, Ms Raftopoulos said.

Initial reports indicated that four lions had escaped on Sunday, but parks officials have since said that evidence suggests only three escaped.

KNP is one of the biggest game reserves in Africa, covering an area of 7,523 sq miles (19,485 sq km).

It is not yet clear how the lions escaped from the park, which is largely fenced off.

Officials say they were probably driven out by population pressures.

The latest escape comes after five lions broke out of the same park in May. Four of them were caught but the fifth is still unaccounted for.


Tourism Observer

SOUTH AFRICA: SANParks Celebrates 80th Birthday Of Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP)

As World Ranger Day was celebrated around the globe yesterday (31 July 2017), South African National Parks (SANParks) celebrated the 80th birthday of Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP). On 3 July 1937, MZNP was proclaimed for the purpose of protecting the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra) at which time it was estimated that fewer than 100 Cape mountain zebra were left in South Africa.

The Cape mountain zebra sub-species was downlisted off the list of endangered species threatened with extinction at last year’s CITES COP17. MZNP has played a principal role in conserving this previously endangered species and has translocated many Cape mountain zebra over the years to create breeding populations in other national parks and game reserves, both public and privately-owned. The park is home to the largest of the three original sub-populations in the country and the current population is now over 1,100 zebra, having grown from only 11 individuals.

The park size has increased considerably over the years, from 1,712ha at the proclamation to 28,386ha at present. In recent years, the park has re-introduced cheetah, lion, brown hyena, buffalo and black rhino to the area.

The Eastern Cape MEC for Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Sakhumzi Somyo, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa, said the opening of eight new accommodation units – the Rock Chalets – increased the park’s permanent employment by 20%, “not to mention the increase in casual work opportunities and extra stimulation of the local economy that will follow.”

The construction of the income-generating facilities was made possible by the government’s infrastructure development programme. “This is one small example of how the Green Economy benefits our local economies that need it most. I had the privilege of being the first guest to sleep in one of these chalets and I can tell you now they are top quality accommodation,” said Somyo.

The new units comprise six two-sleeper cottages and two four-star rock chalets to complement the camping and caravan sites, four-sleeper family cottages, mountain huts and historic guesthouse. The rest camp ran at an 85% occupancy rate over the past financial year, up by nearly 5% on the previous year and this necessitated additional accommodation options.

The signed management plan for the Mountain Zebra Camdeboo Protected Environment was handed to the Landowners Association committee at the celebration. The Mountain Zebra Camdeboo Protected Environment was officially declared by the Minister on 1 April 2016, involving 66 landowners and spanning an area of 286,343ha.

The protected environment is situated between Graaff-Reinet, Nieu-Bethesda, Cradock and Pearston. Its purpose is to maintain the landscape in terms of its scenic, biodiversity and landscape value through collective action by the private landowners and to protect the area from detrimental developments.

The MEC paid tribute to the game rangers around the country who have dedicated their lives to working to protect South Africa’s wildlife and natural heritage. These are the men and women on the frontline – the people who keep our precious natural resources safe. They put their lives on the line every day to keep our flora and fauna safe and on behalf of all South Africans.

I want to thank each and every one of them for their dedication and passion for conservation.



Tourism Observer
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SOUTH AFRICA: Tourists Against Trophy Hunting Want Ban On Trophy Hunting Outside Kruger National Park

Tourists Against Trophy Hunting, a recently formed coalition of tourists opposed to hunting has written to the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) appealing to them for an outright ban on hunting in the area.

The membership of just over 200 includes conservationists, ecologists, writers, photographers, advocates, activists, tourists and travel agents and travel bloggers from countries including Germany, UK, Canada, the US, Brazil and South Africa.

The open letter is reproduced, verbatim, below.

Appeal to APNR from Tourists: Please BAN trophy hunting outside Kruger National Park

In a keynote address to the World Travel and Tourist Summit, John Scanlon recently said the assets that underpin wildlife-based tourism are under severe threat. These threats include habitat loss, pollution, infrastructure, climate change, over exploitation and illegal trade.

We must tackle these threats if wildlife is to survive, if wildlife-based tourism is to survive, if your own business is to survive.

Kruger National Park is one of the largest protected parks in the world, and one of the most visited in South Africa. But many who visit are unaware that private game reserves with open fences to the boundaries of the protected park regularly request and receive permits to trophy hunt.

Or that hunters refer to the Kruger as "the factory." The Timbavati Game Reserve has called this ongoing controversy an "emotive" issue. Others have called it a loophole that must be closed.

We the undersigned are an international coalition of tourists who view wildlife as sentient beings rather than resources to be utilized.

We call upon the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) of Timbavati, Klaerie, Balule and Umbabat to support a total ban on trophy hunting within the area.

SANParks is entrusted with the protection of wildlife, most recently by the Protected Areas Act of 2004. But since 1993, when park officials agreed to remove the boundary fences, animals have moved freely between the areas.

This would be a good thing if hunters were not waiting on the other side. Tourists are told hunting is prohibited in Kruger. But as wildlife status changes from publicly "owned" to res nullius, instantly they become fair game.

Shockingly, park employees also sit on management committees of these reserves, and help to decide the hunting quotas. Are the abundant APNR waterholes where tourists view animals drawing animals over? Is this any different than luring a lion with bait out of a "protected" park?

The recent Timbavati Reserve hunting quota application received much worldwide media attention due to the inclusion of a "trophy" bull. But it also included 33 other elephants, and more than 5 000 animals including endangered species in the four APNR reserves.

Throughout this latest controversy, SANParks and all government officials have been evasive about what was approved. As of a week ago, four elephants had been killed, along with one rhino. We can presume many more from the list have by now been "harvested".

Any call for a tourist boycott at this time would be counterproductive. But more travel agents are choosing not to book in the area unless it is to Sabi Sands, where a hunt ban is in place. It is unacceptable for tourists to share space with trophy hunters, knowing an animal admired, enjoyed, and photographed one day can be shot the next, to become a wall mount or a floor rug.

Trophy hunting is undergoing widespread public scrutiny. People are aware through international headlines that many species are critically declining in numbers. Polls show a majority of tourists are deterred by knowledge of trophy hunting in areas they visit.

If in any doubt of that, look on Trip Advisor at the responses last month to the Timbavati permit request. We include just three of many:

"Should we start a petition on Avaaz? Many international residents would avoid Timbavati if they knew the reserve allowed some hunting areas where endangered animals are hunted."

"I honestly think that people in the wider community, particularly outside of South Africa, haven't a clue that this is happening. I suspect it would not be viewed favourably, I suspect that people....who book with non-hunting lodges in these neighbouring reserves would be appalled that hunting is taking place on the same reserve."

"That is shocking! I will not encourage people to visit it {Timbavati} anymore."

It is time to recognise the hunting industry claims of support for conservation and local communities are not evidence-based. Wildlife watching tourism, as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) reports, has a return of 80% of the total tourism revenue in Africa.

Trophy hunting not only fails to provide a significant benefit for the overall revenue of range states, but threatens ecotourism revenues. It is an unnecessary additive to other pressures, further depleting populations as the "best and the biggest" are killed.

Ethics-based approaches to wildlife conservation are available. The public majority are not hunters, who do not "use," but rather respect and appreciate wildlife, and who have deep concerns about continued survival of iconic species. They are now demanding responses proportionate to their majority status.

As a local SA travel agent has said, her clients will happily pay a conservation fee to support survival of the animals they come to visit.

We therefore ask you, the owners of the APNR lodges and stewards of the lands, to join our effort to protect the wildlife of Kruger National Park wherever they roam. Please support our call for trophy free tourism.

Sincerely,

Tourists Against Trophy Hunting

SOUTH AFRICA: Police Arrest Rhino Poachers

Police members deployed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to work with SANParks as part of Operation Rhino have arrested five suspects for possession of unlicensed firearms in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga during last week.

In the first instance a team comprising of police detectives and forensic specialists together with SANPark rangers arrested 35-year-old Rodney Landela, a SANParks regional ranger, and Kenneth Muchacho, 44 years old, a Vet deployed at SANPark by the Department of Agriculture, for possession of two rhino horns and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The two men were arrested on 27 July 2016 in the Satara section of the Kruger National Park. They have already appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court and their case has been postponed to next week Thursday for bail application.

Apart from the rifle, 17 rounds of ammunition and two rhino horns were found in the men's possession, the police also confiscated four cellular phones, an axe and three Garmin Navigators.

And elsewhere in KwaZulu-Natal, another Operation Team comprising of the Tactical Response Team, Crime Intelligence Unit and the National Intervention Unit arrested three suspects for possession of unlicensed firearm in the Dukuduku area of the province. The three, whose vehicle, seven cellular phones, axe and silencer were taken, are due to appear in the Mtubatuba Magistrate's Court today.

Operation Rhino is a continuous intervention by the SAPS, together with its partners such as the South African National Parks and the Defence force, aimed at bringing to book illegal hunters of rhino and other endangered species within our parks.

The SAPS is encouraged by these arrests and the lengthy prison sentences that are being handed by the courts as this will serve as the necessary deterrents to other potential poachers.

SOUTH AFRICA: Minister Edna Molewa Happy About Arrest And Seizure Of Rhino Horns

The Minister of Environmental Affairs Dr Edna Molewa, has congratulated the Department’s Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions), stationed at O.R Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) working together with Customs, the security company employed by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) as well as the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) for the arrest of a suspected rhino horn smuggler on the 24th of September 2016.

This significant arrest took place on the eve of the opening of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The suspect was intercepted after attempting to take a transit flight to Hong Kong. Three rhino horns with a total mass of 9.4kg and an estimated value of R12.2 m were seized.

The horns were discovered after the suspect’s luggage was screened by border and customs officials. The 48 year old suspect; a Chinese national was expected to appear in court today.

It was the joint work and effective coordination of all the entities involved that led to the successful detection, seizure and arrest.

The Green Scorpions are stationed at a number of ports of entry and exit to increase capability to detect incidents of smuggling of wild specimens, as part of the Department’s Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros approach under implementation since 2014.

CITES COP17 has been billed the largest of its kind in the history of the Convention. The illicit trade in rhino horn and rhino horn products is one of the subjects likely to garner significant attention during the conference.

“With South Africa being the home to the world’s largest rhino population, naturally all eyes will be on us at CITES COP17 as we discuss the impact of the transnational illicit trade in wildlife on our rhino population,” says Minister Molewa.

“South Africa is currently experiencing a decrease in the rate of rhino poaching, and at the same time an increase in the number of arrests for poaching related offences. Slowly but surely our Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros approach is yielding success: we are now getting much better at addressing wildlife crime in a more integrated and coordinated manner,” says Minister Molewa.

In the past week there have been arrests of four Mozambican and two South African suspected rhino poachers in relation to two separate incidents in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

Between 1 January and the end of August 2016 a total of 414 alleged poachers have been arrested in South Africa – of which 177 were in the Kruger National Park and 237 for the rest of the country.

The Integrated Strategic approach involves the Department of Environmental Affairs, the South African National Defense Force (SANDF), the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African State Security Agency, Justice and Correctional Services Department, South African National Parks (SANParks), South African Revenue Service (SARS) and provincial conservation agencies.

It has a number of key pillars, namely:

- Compulsory interventions,
- Managing rhino populations,
- Long-term sustainability interventions, and
- New interventions, within the context of regional and international cooperation

SOUTH AFRICA: Field Ranger Succumbs To Injuries After Accidental Shooting

South African National Parks (SANParks) today announced the tragic passing away of a field ranger in the world famous Kruger National Park. Whilst on active anti-poaching patrol, the field ranger was accidentally shot by a colleague after they were charged by a lone buffalo bull at a very short distance in the Malelane section.

According to his colleague, the two were charged by a buffalo bull and in the ensuing confusion managed to find cover from where they attempted to neutralise the animal but unfortunately the deceased appears to have been caught in the cross fire and sustained a fatal bullet wound to his upper body. A doctor was immediately flown to the scene by SANParks helicopter. A fully equipped AMS medical emergency helicopter based at Nelspruit was also requested and immediately dispatched to the scene. The critically injured ranger was stabilized at the scene and flown immediately to the Nelspruit Medi Clinic. He was then rushed into theatre but tragically later succumbed to his injuries.

Reacting to the news, SANParks CEO, Fundisile Mketeni passed on his sincerest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues. “It is a sad day for us as a family, we have lost one of our own, a dedicated colleague and friend who not only served the organisation but the entire globe to ensure the integrity of our natural heritage. We did all we could to save his life but unfortunately we lost him. We hope this tragic incident will inspire our colleagues to carry on with the sterling work he was doing in the field, so that his death is not in vain” concluded Mketeni.

The name of the deceased cannot be released as his next of kin have yet to be informed and his colleague is receiving trauma counselling.

SOUTH AFRICA: Kruger National Park's Streamlines Access For Day Visitors

In an effort to enhance visitor access management and to avoid possible glitches this Festive Season, Kruger National Park (KNP) Management will be implementing a new system to streamline day visitor arrivals at the gates during busy periods.

Day Visitors will now be able to choose and book a time slot prior to their arrival from one of the following three time slots:
Time slot 1: Arrive 0 to 2 Hours after gate opening time. (Summer months 05:30 to 07:30)
Time slot 2: Arrive 2 to 4 Hours after gate opening time. (Summer months 07:30 to 09:30)
Time slot 3: Arrive 4+ Hours after gate opening time. (Summer months 09:30 onwards).
The Day Visitor Quota for the park is a management tool to maintain the carrying capacity of the park. Visitors will be able to book up to 80% of Day Visitor Quota per gate, via SANParks Reservations offices.
Pre-booked day visitors guest will get preference over non-booked day visitors at the gate.

For the coming Festive Season, we aim to better manage the volumes that we expect on busy days, and importantly also manage the expectations. These busy days are expected to be Saturday and Sunday and in particular 25, 26 and 27 December as well as 1, 2 and 3 January. By introducing the three different slots, we hope to improve the spread of vehicles and, as far as possible prevent unnecessary waiting periods at gates”, said the KNP Managing Executive, Glenn Phillips.

Pre-booked day visitors must ensure that they arrive within the time slots, as per their reservation. Arriving outside the booked time slot, will be regarded as non-booked and therefore not preferential. Visitors who made reservations prior to this new system have been allocated to Time slot 1. These bookings can be changed through SANParks Reservations offices http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations/
Visitors should also take note of the following important information:

Day Visitor bookings are subject to a non-refundable booking fee of R36 per adult and R18 per child.
Day Visitors who have booked will still be required to pay Conservation Fees or use a valid Wild Card to enter the Park.
In order to expedite the admission process, on busy days in particular, Day Visitors are requested to pay for Conservation Fees in advance or ensure that they have valid Wild Card membership.
Guests planning to use Wild Cards are requested to ensure membership is valid before arrival and this can best be done online at www.sanparks.org/wild_new/.
The number and profile of persons (adults and children) on the reservation and actual persons arriving should correspond.
(All) guests may be required to identify themselves upon admission (SA driver’s license, identity document or passport).
Due to existing contractual arrangements with Open Safari Vehicles (OSVs), they are regarded as booked for all Day Visitor admissions. OSVs entering Phabeni Gate will be allowed entry 30 minutes before external gate opening time during the summer.
Gate Quotas will be applied and un-booked guests could be refused admission.
In order to make the wait in the queue at gates a bit more pleasurable, SANParks will be providing serviced toilets at strategic points on the side of the road during peak times. Further to this a community initiative has been set up that will see hot and cold beverages being available for sale to visitors who will be waiting for entry.
Guests are kindly requested to be patient and understanding of this new change. SANParks will be learning from this so please feel free to provide feedback through the customer feedback system.