06 September 2012, 03:57
KathiZim poachers poison vultures to cover tracks
Zim poachers poison vultures to cover tracks
http://www.timeslive.co.zaSapa | 05 September, 2012 08:31
Poachers in Zimbabwe recently poisoned 183 vultures in a single event, in an
attempt to cover their tracks, according to a report on Wednesday.
Beeld reported that the vultures died after the poachers killed an elephant
and smeared poison on the carcass in Zimbabwe's Gona re Zhou National Park.
Andre Botha, a spokesman for the Endangered Wildlife Trust, told the
newspaper on Tuesday that poisoned vultures could end up breeding in the
Kruger Park.
Botha said the disturbing new poisoning trend had originated in East Africa,
where poaching had spiralled out of control.
The poachers poison vultures because they alert nature conservation
authorities to the presence of a fresh carcass, and therefore the
whereabouts of the criminals.
Botha warned that it was only a matter of time before the trend filtered
across the South African border.
He said he had heard about the incident in the Gona re Zhou National Park
from Professor Peter Mundy of the University of Bulawayo.
06 September 2012, 04:06
Bwana BundukiSo do poachers in Botswana. I have the pictures to prove it.
Jeff
06 September 2012, 04:41
chuckmaxmanI say if they catch a poacher "poison them". I'm betting it wouldn't very pleasant.
06 September 2012, 09:53
jdollarquote:
Originally posted by Kathi:
Zim poachers poison vultures to cover tracks
http://www.timeslive.co.zaSapa | 05 September, 2012 08:31
Poachers in Zimbabwe recently poisoned 183 vultures in a single event, in an
attempt to cover their tracks, according to a report on Wednesday.
Beeld reported that the vultures died after the poachers killed an elephant
and smeared poison on the carcass in Zimbabwe's Gona re Zhou National Park.
Andre Botha, a spokesman for the Endangered Wildlife Trust, told the
newspaper on Tuesday that poisoned vultures could end up breeding in the
Kruger Park.
Botha said the disturbing new poisoning trend had originated in East Africa,
where poaching had spiralled out of control.
The poachers poison vultures because they alert nature conservation
authorities to the presence of a fresh carcass, and therefore the
whereabouts of the criminals.
Botha warned that it was only a matter of time before the trend filtered
across the South African border.
He said he had heard about the incident in the Gona re Zhou National Park
from Professor Peter Mundy of the University of Bulawayo.
how the hell could poisoned vultures end up breeding in Kruger Park?? they are dead.
06 September 2012, 16:30
larryshoresThey have been poisoning rhino in the Save for a while.
07 September 2012, 01:03
Bwana338if the turkey birds were killed i wonder how many other animals were killed...
07 September 2012, 04:29
MartyI have seen some of the aftermath of this. After an elephant kill in Dande East a year ago March, I asked Buzz why there weren't any vultures. We had seen thousands at Makuti in 2009. He told me the same story, poisoned to avoid drawing official attention to a carcass. God only knows how many other carrion eaters are collateral damage, either eating the poisoned carcass or secondarily the poisoned birds. Anything from hyena to lion, I expect.
07 September 2012, 09:39
dr_dog_guyI was at a cheetah breeding/recovery facility in SA about 5 years ago and they had a meat and bone disposal area specifically for vultures so that a certain number would have a safe food source. Apparenlty SA has suffered/is suffering a major decline in vultures as well, according to the guide at that facility.
Quick thinking Jdollar!!