News

The area around the target structure will be cleared to ensure animals and human beings are safe. Ranger and Military staff will be on the ground throughout and the road leading to the dam will also be temporarily closed. KNP has been closing redundant artificial water points for the past eight years, the last one having taken place in December last year; said the General Manager: Communications and Marketing, William Mabasa.

Artificial waterholes where water did not naturally occur previously have led to numerous ecological problems such as erosion and other environmental degradation. This also resulted in undesirable consequences for the rare herbivore species such as roan and sable antelope, increasing grazing competition by the more abundant herbivores. Conservation management has taken steps to rectify these consequences by closing and demolishing certain artificial water points. These will be replaced by naturally occurring waterholes in the area, where possible and where such ecological consequences are not likely.

“With continuous research data at our disposal, we have gradually changed our outlook on biodiversity management over the years. With this data available, policies and procedures can be revisited and revised; and that is evident in the change in policy regarding water distribution in the Park”, concluded Mabasa

Issued By

Communications & Marketing Department, Kruger National Park
Tel: 013 735 4262, cell: 082 807 1441
E-mail: [email protected]

Enquiries

William Mabasa
GM: Communications & Marketing, Kruger National Park
Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919
E-mail: [email protected]