MPUMALANGA Tourism and Parks Agency in partnership with SANParks on Thursday, 12 May, successfully captured and relocated five of the eleven elephants that had been roaming the Madadeni area in the Nkomazi region.
Parks Agency acting CEO Mduduzi Vilakazi said the elephants entered South Africa from Eswatini after having moved from Mozambique.
He said the elephants had been released in the Shingwedzi Section, north of the Kruger National Park (KNP). This operation was successfully conducted with the assistance of SANParks Veterinary Wildlife Services and Ranger Services. This saw the provision of their fixed wing and helicopter for air wing support, game capture trucks, loading ramps, and all the other necessary resources required to ensure a safe and successful game capture operation.
He said the operation was conducted in a safe and secure manner under the authority of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency to ensure the elephants were captured in a safe manner and were not a threat to human life.
“We are grateful for the assistance received from the SANParks management and the KNP Ranger Services. The collaboration between the two conservation authorities made this operation a success. We are delighted that the elephants are safe and have been captured and relocated safely. Our Wildlife Management team will continue to monitor the situation on the ground and look out for the remaining elephants which it is believed to be with the breeding herds,” said Vilakazi.
Kruger National Park managing executive Gareth Coleman commended everyone who was involved in the operation.
“This was a difficult and stressful operation, but we are happy at the turn of events and that the animals have been relocated and to a safe area away from communities. We urge communities to alert officials when they observe animals outside the protected areas to stay away from these animals and allow conservation authorities the space to carry out their duties unhindered for the safety of both animals and humans,” he said.
Since the elephants made their way to Mpumalanga, a number of people have been following their journey and there has been an appeal to ensure their safe passage back to Mozambique.
