News

Due to the current drought conditions experienced in the karoo area of South Africa, visitors driving through Karoo and Mountain Zebra National Parks might notice thin looking animals and an increased number of carcasses across the landscape.  These parks are located outside Nxuba (formerly known as Cradock) in the Eastern Cape and Beaufort West in the Western Cape, respectively.

Drought is a natural ecological process.  Although it may be distressing to visitors to see thin or dying animals, it is essential to the long-term health of arid ecosystems.

Historically, animals used to move over vast distances in search of better forage conditions during droughts.  In the Parks, food for plant-eating animals will be limited and will result in the loss of body condition. Some animals will die, while some may move into the mountains where rainfall is higher and food may be remaining.

Park management will continue to monitor the situation and aims to allow natural processes to take place as far as possible, while managing water sources and animal populations responsibly. To this extent, in line with SANParks’ policy to maintain naturally functioning ecosystems, there cannot be any other human intervention.

Once the rains return, conditions of animals usually recover. This natural trend is expected to re-occur in thes instances.