WATCH: Elephants on the loose near Matsulu – again
Evidence suggests some local villagers are baiting the KNP fence to attract elephants to get cheap meat.
Another herd of elephants escaped the Kruger National Park (KNP) last night, Friday October 8, between Matsulu and the Numbi Gate.
The KNP spokesperson, Ike Phaahla, confirmed helicopter assistance was requested last night at sunset by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA). It was, however, already too late to fly.
Pictures shared earlier this morning on the SANParks Facebook page by Mark Taylor show an elephant crossing the dirt road next to the KNP fence in front of a motorbike.
The crossing happened about 5km north of Matsulu. He said although the thickness of the bush made gauging the size of the elephant tricky, he could confirm three elephants crossed the road in front of the rider.
He said the rider also saw two large bulls busy pushing the KNP fence down, but they retreated back into the park when they heard the motorbike. A few, however, crossed over the railway line and into the bushes towards local villages.
@lowvelder Another herd of elephants escaped the Kruger National Park (KNP) last night, Friday October 8, between Matsulu and the Numbi Gate. The KNP spokesperson, Ike Phaahla, confirmed helicopter assistance was requested last night at sunset by the Mpuma langa Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA). It was, however, already too late to fly.Pictures shared earlier this morning on the SANParks Facebook page by Mark Taylor show an elephant crossing the dirt road next to the KNP fence in front of a motorbike. The crossing happened about 5km north of Matsulu. He said although the thickness of the bush made gauging the size of the elephant tricky, he could confirm three elephants crossed the road in front of the rider. He said the rider also saw two large bulls busy pushing the KNP fence down, but they retreated back into the park when they heard the motorbike. A few, however, crossed over the railway line and into the bushes towards local villages. The elephants later appeared to have moved into an adjacent reserve instead of Matsulu, a much safer option for them. Videos of an elephant being hacked to pieces with a chainsaw after it had wandered into Matsulu previously trended on social media. Phaahla said the herd’s most recent detour indicated they would later cross back into the KNP for water. Helicopter assistance would not be necessary. Phaahla expressed his grave concern about certain factions in the surrounding communities’ role in animals frequently escaping the KNP. When rangers inspected the fence after another animal recently tried to get out of the park close to local villages, they made a startling discovery. The fence had been lined with mangoes to lure the elephants out of the park and into poachers’ crosshairs. He said some villagers were baiting the animals and tampering with fences to get cheap protein. This concurs with reliably sourced information Lowvelder recently obtained about communities surrounding the park eating elephant meat. The source shared a photo of cooked elephant meat in a pot, as well as a detailed description of buckets full of elephant leftovers on the property. Lowvelder previously reported on the KNP fences being dismantled and parts sold for the building of low-cost houses in local villages. Phaahla also confirmed this. Phaahla also raised concerns over local communities’ brazen interference with SANParks’ and MTPA’s efforts of chasing escaped animals back into the KNP. Lowvelder has previously reported on how people parked cars and bakkies across roads and paths along which animals return to the park when being pushed by a helicopter. By doing this they are forcing the animals to be shot so that they can get cheap meat. Phaahla said the police have had limited success in controlling crowds when this happened. An anonymous source who supports the bushmeat industry, which is understood to source some of its meat from poached KNP animals, said they were forced to support the trade as they could no longer afford meat sold in mainstream butcheries. He said the economy was tough and people were poor and hungry. Taylor, often vocal on the SANParks Facebook group about damaged fences and escaped animals, said he has noticed well-worn human footpaths into and out of the KNP at weak spots along the fence line. However, he also credited SANparks for fixing the fences as best they can, trying to keep up with the scourge of deliberate tampering. He also noted the fences being properly repaired and reinforced with stronger materials between Matsulu and Numbi Gate. #numbi #elephants #mbombela #krugernationalpark #elephant #elephantmeat #meat #slaughter #fence
The elephants later appeared to have moved into an adjacent reserve instead of Matsulu, a much safer option for them. Videos of an elephant being hacked to pieces with a chainsaw after it had wandered into Matsulu previously trended on social media.
Phaahla said the herd’s most recent detour indicated they would later cross back into the KNP for water. Helicopter assistance would not be necessary.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Elephants return to Kruger; locals disappointed by lost ‘free meat’ opportunity
Animals baited for a cheap meal
Phaahla expressed his grave concern about certain factions in the surrounding communities’ role in animals frequently escaping the KNP. When rangers inspected the fence after another animal recently tried to get out of the park close to local villages, they made a startling discovery. The fence had been lined with mangoes to lure the elephants out of the park and into poachers’ crosshairs. He said some villagers were baiting the animals and tampering with fences to get cheap protein.
This concurs with reliably sourced information Lowvelder recently obtained about communities surrounding the park eating elephant meat. The source shared a photo of cooked elephant meat in a pot, as well as a detailed description of buckets full of elephant leftovers on the property.
Lowvelder previously reported on the KNP fences being dismantled and parts sold for the building of low-cost houses in local villages. Phaahla also confirmed this.
Phaahla also raised concerns over local communities’ brazen interference with SANParks’ and MTPA’s efforts of chasing escaped animals back into the KNP. Lowvelder has previously reported on how people parked cars and bakkies across roads and paths along which animals return to the park when being pushed by a helicopter. By doing this they are forcing the animals to be shot so that they can get cheap meat.
Phaahla said the police have had limited success in controlling crowds when this happened.
ALSO READ: Hazyview community prevents elephants from returning to Kruger Park
An anonymous source who supports the bushmeat industry, which is understood to source some of its meat from poached KNP animals, said they were forced to support the trade as they could no longer afford meat sold in mainstream butcheries. He said the economy was tough and people were poor and hungry.
Taylor, often vocal on the SANParks Facebook group about damaged fences and escaped animals, said he has noticed well-worn human footpaths into and out of the KNP at weak spots along the fence line. However, he also credited SANparks for fixing the fences as best they can, trying to keep up with the scourge of deliberate tampering.
He also noted the fences being properly repaired and reinforced with stronger materials between Matsulu and Numbi Gate.
Warning: graphic content; not for sensitive viewers.
ALSO READ: SANParks addresses fence issues from Numbi to Matsulu
@lowvelder Yet more wild animals have been spotted roaming the streets of Matsulu C, neighbouring the Kruger National Park. Community members say they live in fear as these elephants are seen roaming in their yards and on the streets. They had apparently trampled through a fence out of the Kruger National Park and invaded the neighbourhood. #Elephants #elephantsoftiktok #MTPA #Wildlife #Mbombela #Matsulu
