Cape Town - SA National Parks (SANParks) says it is investigating a suspected poisoning incident in the Kruger National Park after the discovery of a buffalo carcass which appeared to have been laced with poison last Thursday.
More than 100 dead vultures and a dead hyena likely to have fed off the carcass were also found on the scene.
Twenty birds were found alive and rushed to Shingwedzi and Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre for treatment.
The scene has been cordoned off for further investigation and the carcasses have been burned to ensure that there are no further poisonings.
“Initial indications are that some of the carcasses were harvested for their body parts. South African National Parks confirms that the matter has been referred to the SAPS for investigation,” said SANParks.
Acting chief executive officer of SANParks Hapiloe Sello called on law enforcement agencies to arrest the perpetrators.
“This reprehensible act once again highlights the ever-present danger of poisoning by unscrupulous people. We cannot afford to let our guard down and we call on law enforcement agencies outside the park to move swiftly to arrest the perpetrators,” Sello said.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) earlier this month said that poaching was on the rise.
They reported a total of 259 rhino have been poached for their horn in South Africa in the first six months of 2022.
Between January and June, 69 people were arrested in connection with rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking. Of these, 13 alleged poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park.
The department said partnerships between the public and private sector remained key to combating wildlife trafficking.