In Kruger National Park 3 poachers entering the park at night came face to face with a hippopotamus: 1 poacher was mauled to death the others barely escaped

 

Foto: World Animal News

As a sobering reminder of the dangers and consequences of poaching, Kruger National Park (KNP) management recently reported an alarming incident involving suspected illegal activity within the park’s borders. New details suggest that three individuals illegally breached the park’s perimeter under the cover of darkness, intent on committing a crime. However, their illicit intentions were met with consequences when they encountered a hippo, notorious for its aggressive behavior and territorial instinct. The hippo attacked the group, proving fatal for one of the poachers.

The remaining two individuals dragged their deceased accomplice to a nearby road, where his remains were discovered by a tourist the following morning. The tourist promptly notified the park’s Section Ranger, setting off a chain reaction involving law enforcement.

As the South African Police Service delves into this incident, park authorities have issued a precautionary advisory urging visitors to withhold any photographs of the scene from the public to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation.

KNP Management has reinforced its warning against unauthorized entry into the park, highlighting the numerous dangers, ranging from fatal wildlife encounters to arrest and legal repercussions.

This incident serves as a grim reminder of the harsh realities of poaching—not only endangering the lives of vulnerable wildlife but also putting people at risk. The call for awareness and action is more urgent than ever, as poaching not only decimates individual animals but also jeopardizes entire species and disrupts fragile ecosystems.

Anti-poaching units courageously confront these threats in their mission to safeguard endangered species. Their success is contingent upon generous contributions and support from animal lovers around the world. Supporting anti-poaching initiatives is vital to preserve our planet’s rich biodiversity.

“Incidents like this highlight the dangerous environments rangers face every day while protecting wildlife and ecosystems,” Mike Veale, Founder of Global Conservation Force, told WAN. “Wild animals and the unforgiving conditions of these habitats are often the greatest risks, not only for those who enter parks illegally but also for the rangers who work tirelessly to safeguard these areas. This serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and dangerous nature of wildlife conservation and the importance of supporting those on the frontlines.”

The Global Conservation Force exemplifies their commitment to this cause, actively supporting anti-poaching units, wildlife rangers, and conservation programs across the globe. Their relentless efforts are integral to protecting at-risk wildlife and ensuring ecosystems thrive for the benefit of future generations.025

Br
Karen Lapizco

120 rhinos , horns removed, trackers in place, translocated in a historic move to Kruger National Park in Africa ( 8 foto's)

 

120 southern white rhinos have been successfully translocated to reserves represented by the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation (GKEPF) in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, South Africa. This translocation is the second move under Rhino Rewild, an African Parks initiative to rewild 2,000 southern white rhinos into secure, protected African areas.

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One hundred and twenty southern white rhinos have just been translocated to member reserves of the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation (GKEPF) in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, South Africa. This boost to the southern white rhino population in the Greater Kruger area is part of African Parks’ Rhino Rewild initiative, an ambitious plan to rewild 2,000 southern white rhinos into secure, protected areas in Africa over the next ten years. This follows the translocation of 40 southern white rhino to Munywana Conservancy in South Africa in May.

GKEPF, established in 2016, is an alliance of nine private reserves, one provincial park, and one national park to service the protection needs of the western and eastern buffers of the Kruger National Park (KNP) and the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier National Park. This translocation comes when poaching rates within GKEPF reserves have significantly declined, indicating the effectiveness of security and anti-poaching measures.

In September 2023, African Parks purchased the world’s largest captive rhino breeding operation from John Hume in a bid to rescue 2,000 southern white rhinos following a failed auction, with one primary objective: to rewild them all to well-managed and secure protected areas, to establish or supplement strategic populations, ultimately helping to de-risk the future of the species.

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Through Rhino Rewild, African Parks is dedicated to bolstering healthy southern white rhino populations in South Africa – and recognises the country’s efforts in rhino conservation for the benefit of the African continent.

Rhinos are darted with tranquilliser from a helicopter

“Moving 120 rhinos under the Rhino Rewild initiative to GKEPF will augment the existing rhino population in the Greater Kruger and ensure that these rhino are fulfilling their role in their natural environment, which has been our vision from the start,” says Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks. “Despite significant pressures, GKEPF members have played a critical role in the conservation of the Greater Kruger landscape, providing an important buffer to the Kruger, and we support their commendable progress in protecting rhino populations in their native range.”

Sharon Haussmann, CEO of GKEPF, says, “The rewilding itself bears testament to the cumulative knowledge, partnerships, and insights of a protracted period of anti-poaching efforts in the Greater Kruger landscape. That the benefits so clearly outweigh the risks presents a significant opportunity for rewarding the efforts of everyone who has remained committed to safeguarding rhino populations amid extremely challenging circumstances over the past 10 to 15 years.”

Collaboration is at the heart of GKEPF’s mandate. While rhinos will not be released into the KNP itself but into private game reserves along its western boundary, the project received consensus, collaboration, and expert inputs from KNP and South African National Parks (SANParks). This strategic placement to private reserves sharing an unfenced border with the KNP strengthens the rhino metapopulation and lays the groundwork for potential future collaboration as the Kruger continues its fight against poaching.

GKEPF vet, Günter Nowak, carefully guides a sedated rhino to a translocation crate

This region of South Africa is an ideal habitat for southern white rhinos. The fertile and water-rich grasslands of the selected release areas are suitable for ensuring optimal rhino health and population growth. Through a decade-long collaborative effort to combat rhino poaching, reserves and stakeholders have developed and shared a wealth of expertise. This has significantly bolstered their ability to proactively and effectively address poaching threats and safeguard the species.

The safety of these translocated rhinos is at the forefront for everyone involved. “The rhino will come in dehorned, which is a very effective way to decrease the poaching risk in this landscape. We’re at a point where this risk is well calculated,” says Markus Hofmeyr, a wildlife vet and Director of the Rhino Recovery Fund. “This will be the first reintroduction of rhinos into this landscape in about 50 years,” he adds.

A rhino is led towards transportation crates

Moving 120 rhinos is an enormous undertaking in every way, and it has taken, as Haussmann explains, “many, many sleepless nights” and extensive funding. African Parks is donating the animals to the reserve, with GKEPF donors contributing to the translocation costs and the subsequent ongoing monitoring of the rhino, a critical element for the project’s long-term success.

A word of thanks from African Parks: The Rob Walton Foundation and the Pershing Square Foundation are the initial funders of Rhino Rewild. Thanks to the OAK Foundation, Rhino Recovery Fund, Hancock Family, Max Planck Institute & Contemplate Wild, and Land Rover Sandton/SMH Group for their support of this translocation to GKEPF.

The translocation team leads a rhino towards a crate for translocation

Günter Nowak and GKEPF CEO Sharon Haussmann inspect the ear of a tranquillised rhino prior to attaching a tracking device

A rewilded rhino takes it first steps into Greater Kruger from a transport crate

A rewilded rhino approaches the water hole inside the boma in Greater Kruger

Moving animals over thousands of kilometres is a serious endeavour. With 30 animals, chartered jumbo jets are the best way. This requires considerable veterinary and logistical coordination to capture the animals, load into crates, transport to the aircraft, load as quickly as possible, unload similarly, transport to the site and release into well-sited and secure bomas. Documentation needs to be in order with customs and immigration officials on both ends to make it as smooth as possible.

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