The Kruger National Park (KNP) is facing an ongoing poaching challenge that goes far beyond the threat to rhinos.

Increasingly, animals are being targeted for their meat, creating serious conservation, health and security concerns.

According to Cathy Dreyer, head of the rangers at KNP, the strategy to protect the rhinoceros population is showing positive results on the South African side of the park. Sustained efforts have led to a number of arrests and convictions, demonstrating effective management in the area.

However, the threat remains, particularly on the Mozambican side of the border, highlighting the cross-border complexity.

While rhino poaching remains a priority, Dreyer highlighted the broader problem of poachers targeting game for meat.

ALSO READ: More incursions in KNP, less rhinos poached

“It reaches crisis proportions during the festive season, when poachers are ‘shopping in the wild’ to make money for December. Other individuals poach simply because they want to eat,” she said.

Dreyer also emphasised the serious public health risks linked to the consumption of poached meat. “People consume the meat without checking if it is safe, which can lead to serious illness or even death,” she warned.

Kudu, impalas and buffalo, animals crucial to the KNP’s biodiversity and ecological balance, are prime targets for bushmeat poachers.

Rangers are also combatting a wide array of other illegal activities in the park. Endangered plants are harvested illegally and trees are chopped down for firewood.

The mass poisoning of vultures and other birds also presents a major concern. While the motives behind this type of poaching are often unclear, Dreyer suggested that the birds may be targeted to prevent rangers from locating carcasses, particularly those of rhinos.

ALSO READ: Skukuza poacher sentenced to 16 years

Through the KNP Rhino Conservation Programme, the park is implementing a comprehensive, multi-layered strategy to curb all forms of poaching.

The focus would be on:
• Protecting core rhino areas
• Monitoring rhino movements and population
• Deterring criminals using layered security with appropriate technologies
• De-horning rhinos
• Ensuring staff integrity
• Engaging with external partners and communities
• Innovative biological habitat management
• Moving animals to improve population performance
• Dedicated communication plans with targeted messages at local level.

Technology and surveillance are critical components of the park’s defence. Ranger patrols and cameras across the KNP play a crucial part in curbing poaching. These cameras are monitored 24 hours to track movement and are yielding positive results.

Dreyer appealed to the public to curb the demand for bushmeat: “We are calling on those who are buying the meat to stop. If anyone knows about this, we urge them to report it to the police. Purchasing meat from wild animals fuels poaching by creating demand for illegally hunted game.”

Rangers, with the assistance of the honorary rangers and private sectors, continue to work tirelessly to remove snares in all hotspot areas, demonstrating the park’s enduring commitment to protecting its diverse wildlife heritage.