PROJECT: ECOLOGICAL WARFARE IN SOUTH AFRICA
- isabels39
- May 29
- 6 min read
Updated: May 30
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POACHERS POISON OVER 225 ENDANGERED VULTURES USING BANNED AGRICULTURAL TOXINS
Wildlife Conservationists Sound Alarm as Syndicates Turn Ecosystem Guardians into Collateral Damage
Over 225 critically endangered vultures have died in two deliberate mass poisonings in May 2025
in the Kruger National Park and Lionspruit Game Reserve near Marloth Park, Mpumalanga.
These deaths are not random - they are the result of targeted ecological warfare,
likely orchestrated by sophisticated wildlife poaching syndicates aiming to silence nature’s warning system.
What makes this tragedy more alarming is the suspected use of banned and lethal pesticides, originally meant for pest control on farms, now weaponised in one of the most sinister assaults on South Africa’s ecosystems in recent memory.
URGENT CONSERVATION ALERT
TWO POISONED CARCASSES, 225 DEAD VULTURES
INCIDENT 1: KRUGER NATIONAL PARK - 6 MAY 2025
A poison-laced elephant carcass killed 123 vultures.
Among them:
112 White-backed vultures (Critically Endangered).
10 Cape vultures (Endangered).
1 Lappet-faced vulture (Endangered).
83 more were rescued; 5 died from exposure.
Follow the links below for more information:
INCIDENT 2: LIONSPRUIT GAME RESERVE - 18 MAY 2025
102 vultures killed, no survivors.
Victims included:
92 White-backed vultures (90% breeding adults).
9 Hooded vultures (Critically Endangered).
1 White-headed vulture (Critically Endangered).
Follow the links below for more information:
Both scenes bore hallmarks of professional poisoning: carcasses laced with slow-degrading,
high-potency toxins intended to kill only the scavengers that respond first, vultures.
Vultures are vital to the health of ecosystems:
They prevent disease by consuming decaying carcasses.
They serve as early warning systems for park rangers, alerting them to poaching activity.
Their decline could lead to a surge in disease outbreaks and unchecked decomposition of animal remains, affecting livestock, wildlife, and human communities alike.
With all affected vulture species listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered by the IUCN, the long-term ecological and conservation implications are dire.
These birds reproduce slowly, making population recovery a painstakingly slow process.
AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER WITH FAR-REACHING IMPACT:
This deliberate poisoning incident is a severe blow to South Africa’s already threatened vulture populations.
The ecological damage is profound, not only due to the loss of vital scavengers but also due to the long-term impact on biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
Breeding season losses are particularly harmful, as they severely hinder recovery efforts for these endangered species.
Samples from the scene have been collected for toxicology testing by renowned poison expert Dr. Gerhard Verdoorn of the Griffon Poison Information Centre, with assistance from Dr. Peet Venter.
The findings will support potential legal proceedings.
Kerri Wolter, CEO of VulPro, expressed deep concern:
"The scale of this poisoning is catastrophic. It appears to be part of a broader, coordinated pattern.
We fear this could be a distraction from a much larger threat. The absence of body part removal suggests a new disturbing trend. The timing during breeding season makes the loss even more devastating."
THE POISONS: CHEAP, ILLEGAL AND DEADLY:
Dr. Gerhard Verdoorn, a toxicologist and director of the Griffon Poison Information Centre, believes two specific substances are to blame: aldicarb and terbufos.
Banned but Abundant:
Aldicarb: Completely prohibited in South Africa.
Terbufos: Strictly regulated for agricultural use, yet widely available illegally. However, enforcement of these restrictions has been inconsistent, raising significant concerns among public health and environmental advocates.
“Street-sold poisons don’t even resemble the old regulated formulations,” says Verdoorn. “They’re black granules - cheap, deadly, and untraceable. And they’re coming from China via Zimbabwe in alarming volumes.”
These chemicals are sold openly on street corners and in informal markets, often repackaged as rat poison.
One tragedy in Soweto in 2024 saw six children die after consuming snacks contaminated with terbufos sold at a local spaza shop.
This raised national alarm but no effective crackdown followed.
Long-Term Environmental Time Impact:
These toxins do not degrade quickly.
Dried, poisoned meat can remain lethal for months.
Other documented victims include lions, jackals, hyenas, and leopards—entire scavenger populations are at risk.

“We’ve basically lost all jackals in Mapungubwe National Park,” says Verdoorn.
“There’s almost no scavenger population left there. Now the Lowveld is next.”
RECOMMENDATIONS:
CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL AGROCHEMICALS:
Enforce existing bans on aldicarb.
Restrict and monitor the sale of terbufos and similar organophosphates.
Conduct sting operations targeting informal markets.
BORDER CONTROL INTENSIFICATION:
Stop the cross-border smuggling of banned Chinese-made toxins.
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS:
Educate rural communities and traders about the lethal consequences of these substances.
POLICY REFORM AND INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION:
Harmonise regulations between environmental, agricultural, and public health authorities.
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF VULTURE RELEASES:
As recommended by VulPro, halt all vulture rewilding in Mpumalanga until the poisoning threats are neutralised.
TEMPORARY HALT TO VULTURE RELEASES:
In light of the growing number of poisoning cases, VulPro has called for a temporary suspension of vulture releases in Mpumalanga until the current threats can be properly assessed and addressed.
Just days before this tragedy, VulPro and Wild and Free formalised a key conservation partnership to establish a dedicated vulture emergency response unit in the province.
This initiative provides:
Rapid-response teams for poisoning and injury cases.
On-site veterinary care through Wild and Free’s clinic.
Long-term rehabilitation and post-release tracking via VulPro’s national programme.
Supported by conservation partners WeWild Africa and Over & Above Africa, this alliance bridges conservation expertise across provincial lines to confront the threat of extinction head-on.
TO REPORT WILDLIFE POISONINGS:
If you see a dead vulture or suspect wildlife poisoning, do not touch the carcass.
These poisons are lethal to humans and pets.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS:
Griffon Poison Information Centre (24/7)
Contact numbers: +27 82 446 8946/+27 82 808 5113
Email address: gerhard@croplife.co.za
VulPro – Vulture Conservation Organisation
Email address: admin@vulpro.com/kerri.wolter@gmail.com
Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation (Deidre Joubert)
Contact number: +27 79 988 5748
Investigations are ongoing.
The dedicated efforts of the ground teams, who carried out the challenging and emotionally taxing task of decontaminating the sites to prevent further harm to wildlife, are highly commended and deeply appreciated.
Mr. Mike Bolhuis, an avid advocate for nature and environmental preservation, has expressed his full support for the tremendous efforts undertaken by every legitimate conservation organisation involved.
Mr. Bolhuis applauds their unwavering dedication to safeguarding South Africa’s wildlife and maintaining ecological integrity, even in the face of such heartbreaking setbacks.
Read SSS's most recent project regarding wildlife poisoning:
If you have information related to these incidents or any cases of animal poisonings,
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Email address: philv@mikebolhuis.co.za
MR. BEN ALMERO
Contact number: +27 82 578 4363
Email address: benalmero@mikebolhuis.co.za
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