The file photo shows a giraffe walking at the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa, Sept. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
South Africa's Kruger National Park, a well-known African safari destination, has said there are increasing animals in the park poisoned by suspected poachers.
JOHANNESBURG, March 23 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Kruger National Park (KNP), a well-known African safari destination, said on Friday that there are increasing animals in the park poisoned by suspected poachers.
Some unknown people have poisoned water in the park or put poisoned meat, which has resulted in the deaths of various species, Richard Sowry, a ranger with the KNP, told Xinhua.
"Some poisoned water has killed insects, birds, hawks, eagles, vultures, buffaloes, elephants, and other animals. Any animal that feeds on the carcasses dies, and we burn all of them after that," said Sowry, who noted that more than 2,000 vultures have been poisoned at the park.
The file photo shows an elephant walking near tourists at the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa, Sept. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
"People living next to the park should know the value of the animals in the park and benefit from it so that they can protect them. We have engaged the people on many occasions to help us conserve the fauna and wildlife," he said.
Sowry added that they are trying to beef up the security in the KNP by using helicopters and dogs with global positioning systems on their necks to track poachers. ■
