SANParks.org Forums

Somewhere, a few posts back someone
posted that dogs get attacked by leopards
and thus get locked in for protection.

Someone else mentioned that dogs get
used to sniff-out rhino haul and poaching.

Being the owner of dogs myself I certainly
know the responsibility it brings about.
I have lost dear ones to snakebite and
therefore a question pops up in my mind!!?

What choise does a ranger take between
predator or pet??


On numerous occasions I have made mention
my task in life to save ringhalsie, a killer of
my favourite pet.

Any comments from a ranger????????

If Mahonie Loop is a hotbed for this type of poaching, it sounds like a good place to setup a to cull this thread to the park.

I wonder if we can add anti poaching men around Punda?

When I reported the original sighting to Punda staff I included my contact details just in case more detail or evidence was required, I didn't expect to be kept informed of SANPARK's actions based on my report.
However, after seeing the interest and replies (many of which are very informative) on this forum thread I am surprised that we have yet to hear from the park's management regarding the issue, whether these specific sightings or the more general problem. Or even just to confirm their suspicions that they are/were hunting dogs rather than the feral dogs as first thought by this reporter.

This is certainly a very disturbing trend and obviously something needs to be done about it. Whether it will happen is another story.

Good luck with receieving any feedback loonetoone. I have been waiting for feedback on another matter since 12 January, after a promise of a 14 day turn around by the officials. Follow-up mails does not help either I am sorry to report.

Thanks for the report from Loonytoone and Elsa. We had already received a similar report from a client who witnessed three strangers with 20 hunting dogs around Mahonie Loop. This was immediately taken up with relevant management for them to investigate and they are monitoring the situation closely so that these trespassers can be caught. It is an offence for any person to allow any species or specimen to graze in a ...national park... or enter upon it without the prior written approval of the management authority. If found in the veld, such dogs are put down because they are a real threat to the wild animals as they (feral dogs) could be carrying rabies. Feral dogs in particular are a danger to animals as they become hunters and will kill wild animals. They may also introduce diseases which can infect wild dogs.

From time to time we do experience such incidents more especially at the perimeter fences as one cannot rule out incidents of poaching in a National Park completely. With the current ongoing strike by field rangers, some people would grab an opportunity to hunt for certain species; however what we do is continue to monitor the situation along the KNP’s boundaries by conducting patrols either by foot, bicycle, vehicle or helicopter and any intruders if caught are charged. Our anti-poaching teams will do everything in their power to stop these hunting perpetrators from continuing with these illegal activities.

Kind Regards:

Thanks for the feedback Lesego, please keep us uptodate with any info regarding the subject!

Yes, thank you very much for your response Lesego.
It is good to know that reports are being followed up as it will encourage other visitors to report sightings of other wrongdoing - we must all help to protect our parks.

Thanks Lesego,
as I said in my one post, the day we were leaving Punda Maria camp we did see a helicopter come in and pick up/drop someone so possibly linked to the incident and follow up but it was 2 days later, so not sure.

Any news on the latest status of this matter. I shall be in Punda in a months time and it would be great to have an update on this matter.

Len

Lesego

Do we have any news on this matter ?

Len

Before booking Punda again, I would like an update too please.
Customers are begging for an update, throw us a morsel of info please.

Sounds like a continuous statement hey FG and Len