In one of the largest poisoning incidents in Kruger National Park, a total of 116 vultures were found dead in the Mahlangeni Section of the Park. the devastating event was detected by the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) wildlife poisoning surveillance and detection system, which triggered an alert at 06:05 on 6 May 2025, flagging suspicious activity in a remote section of the park.
A joint SANParks and EWT team was mobilised, arriving at the scene by 08:20. There, they discovered a mass poisoning event involving hundreds of vultures, the result of an elephant carcass laced with highly toxic agrochemical pesticides laid by poachers to harvest body parts for the illegal wildlife trade. Ultimately, 123 vultures succumbed to the poisoning while 84 were rescued.
Staggering numbers
The 123 vultures were made up of 102 White-backed Vultures, 20 Cape Vultures and one Lappet-faced Vulture. All are listed as endangered or critically endangered species. The loss of 123 vultures in a single incident is a devastating blow to the already vulnerable Greater Kruger vulture population, says a EWT report.
High-Stakes Vulture Rescue
Rescue and recovery efforts were swift and unprecedented:
- 84 vultures rescued, including White-backed, Cape, and Hooded Vultures
- 45 transported by EWT’s specialised vulture ambulance
- 39 airlifted by SANParks helicopters to Phalaborwa
- Emergency treatment included atropine, activated charcoal, and fluid therapy
- Intensive care provided at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Despite five additional vultures dying during treatment, a 96% survival rate was achieved among those rescued. As of 8 May, 83 vultures remain alive and in recovery.
“We commend every individual who responded to this tragedy. Their courage, skill, and relentless commitment transformed a potential extinction-level event into one of the most successful vulture rescues ever recorded,” says EWT.
“Without rapid detection by the EWT’s wildlife poisoning detection and surveillance system and the unprecedented cooperation between NGOs, rangers, vets, and SANParks aerial and ranger units, many more birds would have been lost.”
This was the first time SANParks helicopters were formally used in a wildlife poisoning rescue of this scale. helicopters made multiple trips between the incident site and Phalaborwa throughout the day to assist with the movement of the vultures.
Escalating Poison Poaching in Southern Africa
The incident highlights a growing crisis: the use of agrochemical poisons in wildlife poaching. Vultures are deliberately targeted for the traditional medicine (muthi) trade, and similar tactics are increasingly used on other species like lions.
Commenting of the incident, conservation organisation Vulpro which runs a specialist captive vulture breeding programme said poisoning, driven by demand from the traditional muthi trade, is pushing vultures toward local extinction. “While we were not part of this specific field response, events like these underscore the urgent need for strategic partnerships and a shared commitment to conservation. We are not just responding to crisis. We are planning for survival. We are rebuilding what is being lost.”
Images supplied by EWT
