SANParks Considering Cutting Cellphone Reception in Kruger Park

[Richprins]

Cell signals could be cut in KNP to curb poaching
General manager of communications, Ike Phaahla, urged visitors to the park to not share photos and selfies of rare wildlife on social media.
9 hours ago

Lande Willemse




Kruger National Park (KNP) officials are considering cutting off the cellphone signal in the park to curb irresponsible behaviour.

“I think people would be shocked to know that their tips on sightings are being monitored by poachers. We are talking to experts to see what can be done to curb irresponsible behaviour. Cutting off the signal might be the answer.”

He added that it is possible that poachers are using the geotagged locations from the photos and selfies to track and kill rhinos and elephants.



Poaching remains a huge problem in the park. Phaahla said the aim of potential changes would be to deal with the impact of mobile technology, which is reportedly contributing to overcrowding and reckless behaviour, as well as enabling poaching.

A local tour operator confirmed that mobile apps can reveal the location of animals. He said it is unbelievable how sophisticated these poaching syndicates are, and that they often have several social media profiles that are used to track posts about wildlife.

Phaahla added, “Until we can find a solution, we are calling on people to take their time, enjoy the scenery and peace and quiet, and not rely on their phones to enhance their experience.”

He reminded visitors to switch off their geotagging, and not to indicate when, where and at what time a photo was taken.



New rules are now considered after a spate of incidents have raised concerns about the impact of tourism. KNP received approximately 1,8 million visitors in 2019, and this has led to several problems, including traffic accidents.

Last month three impala were killed by an alleged speeding motorist, and in November a giraffe was killed when it was hit by a minibus. A Swiss tourist died during the accident.


https://lowvelder.co.za/520021/cell-sig ... -poaching/

[Richprins]

Will dissect later, but this is in my opinion a simple brutish attempt to continue the war against Latestsightings, as SP want a cut of their Youtube revenue.

There is no way cellphone reception can be cut, it is illegal.

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... &start=550

[Alf]

Clowns

[Alf]

Once again SP are looking for an easy way out

Let's say the app helps the poachers and everyone will believe us

Now the next question: once the cellphone signal is blocked who will they blame for speeding and congestion at sightings

[Richprins]

We asked about this 9 years ago, and reliable actual Kruger National Park antipoaching sources, not tourism operators, said that cellphone reception is on balance far more vital for emergencies for tourists, and for antipoaching reporting by staff and tourists. It is a no-brainer.

[RogerFraser]

why not cut all power too and go back to ox-wagons . There is some ulterior motive here .The technology exists to curb speeding it has for the last 100 years .Enforce the rules employ capable law enforcement . Apply a induction course for all new park visitors and get them to sign a code of conduct agreement . Fine transgressors and ban repeat offenders

[Richprins]

This is also a lovely distraction from other crises like the taxi speedster stuff. Nothing ever happened after the Swiss tourist died, for example. (Which is mentioned in the last sentence of the article.)

But the main thing is money.

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

My comments in red:


Cell signals could be cut in KNP to curb poaching


Kruger National Park (KNP) officials are considering cutting off the cellphone signal in the park to curb irresponsible behaviour.

“I think people would be shocked to know that their tips on sightings are being monitored by poachers. What does this have to do with irresponsible behaviour? People are far more shocked already by the involvement of staff and officials and other non-tourists in poaching.

We are talking to experts What experts? Cellphone experts? to see what can be done to curb irresponsible behaviour. Cutting off the signal might be the answer.”

He added that it is possible that poachers are using the geotagged locations from the photos and selfies to track and kill rhinos and elephants. Lots of things are possible if one wants to find justification. Speculation. Anyway, one only needs to drive or walk for a few km in Kruger to find elephants.



Poaching remains a huge problem in the park. Now why is that, one wonders??
Phaahla said the aim of potential changes would be to deal with the impact of mobile technology, which is reportedly contributing to overcrowding and reckless behaviour, as well as enabling poaching. Not at all. There is not a single substantiated case where poachers have admitted to following a sightings app, nor geotagging, for that matter. Overcrowding and reckless behaviour were there long before cellphones, and have far more to do with Kruger's allowing too many visitors in their mindless pursuit of money. Not to mention the constant stream of contractors, commuters, franchise operators, OSV's, staff "guests" and delivery vehicles that come with the loose controls and wrong priorities.

A local tour operator confirmed that mobile apps can reveal the location of animals. He said it is unbelievable how sophisticated these poaching syndicates are, and that they often have several social media profiles that are used to track posts about wildlife. Maybe, maybe not. And why not hear from law-enforcement rather than a tour operator? Why would one need secret profiles to check on sightings, as they are public info? Also remember that SANParks endlessly reminds us that less than 10% of Kruger is touched by human development, so as to justify the endless new facilities and accommodation. Poaching has only occurred, and very rarely, within sight of tourist roads over the last year or two, and these are negligible in numbers compared to the history of the scourge. The vast majority of the Park's area has no cellphone coverage anyway.

Phaahla added, “Until we can find a solution, we are calling on people to take their time, enjoy the scenery and peace and quiet, and not rely on their phones to enhance their experience.” No, you have no right to unilaterally dictate what paying customers legally do in the privacy of their vehicles.

He reminded visitors to switch off their geotagging, and not to indicate when, where and at what time a photo was taken. Better disconnect the live SANParks webcams then? And prohibit the sightings boards in camps? And enforce the EXISTING prohibition of two-way radios that are used by your lucrative private OSV operators.



New rules are now considered after a spate of incidents have raised concerns about the impact of tourism. KNP received approximately 1,8 million visitors in 2019, and this has led to several problems, including traffic accidents. So nothing to do with poaching now? And who decided to allow so many tourists in? By the way, Kruger should know EXACTLY how many people enter, not approximately, which is part of the problem. Speeding leads to accidents, not cellphones.

Last month three impala were killed by an alleged speeding motorist, Alleged, no. According to information the three lambs ran in front of the car, due to the presence of a hyena. This was confirmed by witnesses. The vehicle owner reported the incident immediately to the local ranger, out of own volition. There is no cellphone reception in that area.

and in November a giraffe was killed when it was hit by a minibus. Could we not also add that the taxi was "allegedly" speeding? What is the point of mentioning that in connection with cellphones?

A Swiss tourist died during the accident. Ironically cellphone reception played a massive role in alerting authorities and medical rescue to this tragedy as quickly as possible, which is the point. The incident happened out of cellphone range but obviously the app used for social media enabled the message to get out as soon as the first witness could reach signal.

[harrys]

You are so right RP, they have excuses for everything and they blame everyone except the the real perpetrators