Mass Vulture Poisoning in Kruger Sparks Major Rescue Operation

A devastating poisoning incident in South Africa’s Kruger National Park has left conservationists reeling, as 123 vultures were found dead and 83 others are now under veterinary care after being poisoned by a contaminated elephant carcass.

On May 6, rangers from South African National Parks (SANParks) and members of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) discovered the carcass, including a carcass of an elephant which had been deliberately laced with lethal pesticides. The discovery came after an automated alert flagged unusual activity in a remote section of the park.

“This is one of the worst vulture poisonings we’ve ever seen in Southern Africa,” said EWT and SANParks in a joint statement. The scale of the response and the number of birds saved also marks a record in coordinated rescue efforts.

Among the casualties were 112 critically endangered white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus), a species that has lost over 80% of its population in the past four decades. The poisoning also claimed 20 Cape vultures (Gyps coprotheres), which are considered vulnerable, and a single lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos), a rare species with only a few thousand mature individuals left in the wild.

The first responders — a team of six SANParks rangers and two EWT officials — quickly administered emergency treatment to the surviving birds. The vultures received atropine to counteract the effects of the poison, along with activated charcoal and rehydration fluids.

At the time of writing, about half of the surviving 83 vultures are stable, while the rest remain in critical condition under close watch. Sadly, five birds succumbed despite treatment efforts.

Vultures play an essential role in ecosystems by disposing of animal carcasses, thereby reducing the spread of disease. Their highly acidic stomachs allow them to safely digest decaying flesh that would otherwise be hazardous to humans and other animals.

The timing of the attack is especially damaging, as it coincides with the vultures' breeding season. With most pairs only producing one chick a year, the loss could severely impact future populations.

Officials suspect poachers may have intentionally poisoned the carcass to target vultures. This is often done to harvest vulture parts for the illegal wildlife trade or to prevent the birds from giving away poaching activity by circling overhead.

This isn’t the first tragedy of its kind—back in 2019, more than 530 vultures and two eagles were killed in Botswana using similar tactics.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone involved in the response,” the EWT and SANParks said. “Thanks to their swift action and dedication, a dire situation became a historic rescue effort that may help keep these incredible birds from the brink of extinction.”

Image credit: Endangered Wildlife Trust.