The Tragedy of Pretoriuskop's Rhinos

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Richprins
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The Tragedy of Pretoriuskop's Rhinos

Post by Richprins »

2010:
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It is one of conservation's greatest travesties that arguably the greatest success story in South Africa has been so utterly and ironically reversed, namely the Pretoriuskop white rhino population.

Rhino have been virtually wiped out in this area of Kruger, which used to be the most popular habitat for them over a period of 50 years.

During October 1961 the first batch of 4 white rhinos were translocated from Natal and released in a special enclosure near Pretoriuskop. They were reintroduced to the park after they became extinct around 1896. By September 1964 a total of 98 white rhinos had been moved to the park. (Wiki)

On the Voortrekker road close to Pretoriuskop is where the first white rhino were reintroduced to Kruger. One can see the remains of the structure where two bulls and two cows were let loose in October 1961 (having been shot out of the area by 1896). During the 1960s, a total of 320 white rhino were reintroduced into the southern Park from the Umfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, and a further 12 were released in the north.

http://www.krugerpark.co.za/Self_Drive_ ... elane.html




This was the Faai enclosure, a huge area still to be seen just south of camp next to the Voortrekker Road.


http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/inde ... 1165246384

viewtopic.php?t=1916

Up until the beginning of the 2010s white rhino were almost guaranteed to be seen along the myriad of dirt roads within a 15km radius of camp, and if not, one would always see evidence of their existence in the form of extensive dung middens. No longer.

Since then there has been a dramatic reduction in numbers, mostly due to poaching and to a far smaller degree relocation to more protected areas within and outside the Park.

Why all the poaching here?

One could speculate, but factors include the heavy presence of densely-populated community settlements in the Numbi area. However, the Park itself is "shielded" by private land and the Mthethomushwa Game Reserve along most of its Southwestern border, making ingress more difficult than say the Malelane section, where rhino numbers are significantly higher.

There have been a number of staff-related poaching incidents around Pretoriuskop over the last two decades, however, including the disappearance of horns and weapons from safekeeping there.

viewtopic.php?f=197&t=4978


viewtopic.php?f=197&t=1461


2012 Pretoriuskop, (Mpumalanga): Duncan Solomon Mnisi, Doctor Mbuso Ngwenyama, Charles Heartered Mabunda and Tiyani Mabunda were arrested for the illegal hunting of rhino in the Kruger National Park. All four were SANParks employees
In addition, a fifth KNP official stationed at the Pretoriuskop section of the park has been arrested. https://www.gov.za/latest-statistics-rhino-poaching

2016 PRETORIUSKOP – Abednigo Manzini (32), a ranger at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park (KNP), was arrested on Tuesday for rhino poaching. He was one of a party of three poachers and was arrested after being wounded in the shoulder.He was treated in Matikwane Hospital. This happened in the Pretoriuskop Section of the KNP. https://lowvelder.co.za/340611/one-poac ... onal-park/

MBOMBELA – The suspects accused with breaking into the Kruger National Park’s (KNP) Pretoriuskop safe days before the arrest of ranger Mr Rodney Landela (35), were identified on Thursday afternoon. According to Hawks spokesman, Capt Lucy Dineo Sekgotodi, Messrs Thabo Solly Khoza (33), Reply Ishmael Themba (39), Vusi Mthombeni (31) and Lynborn Bobhoza Sithole (31), allegedly used a duplicate key to open the safe at the Pretoriuskop camp offices on two instances – in 2015 and on July 23 this year. An R1 rifle, two rhino horns and “a huge number of ammunition (sic)”, were stolen. https://lowvelder.co.za/349247/sanparks ... urt-again/

2017 Mashele is a police reservist and the head of security at Phabeni and Numbi gates. On Wednesday police raided his temporary Skukuza home.
What they found could have easily raised the suspicion that Mashele may be affiliated to a rhino-poaching kingpin, presumably as a supplier.
A blue light and more than 30 rounds of ammunition and magazines for R5, R1 and .375 rifles, were lined up as potential exhibits. Handcuffs and torches were placed alongside them. Photos taken of the scene show at least nine uniforms of police officials and Kruger National Park rangers. http://lowvelder.co.za/399091/shocking- ... -official/




Be that as it may, this remains a tragedy indeed.
Last edited by Richprins on Tue Mar 03, 2020 11:02 am, edited 6 times in total.


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Re: The Tragedy of Pretoriuskop's Rhino

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:-( :-(


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Re: The Tragedy of Pretoriuskop's Rhino

Post by Alf »

@#$


Next trip to the bush??

Let me think......................
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Re: The Tragedy of Pretoriuskop's Rhinos

Post by Lisbeth »

Too sad :-( As always, counterattacks taken too late 0*\


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