elephant
A Kruger National Park game ranger has shared a video clip of an elephant with an impressive - and sharp-looking - pair of tusks. Photo: CB screenshot

Home » Armed gunmen, dead elephants, and tourism in KZN on edge following elephant trampling man to death

Armed gunmen, dead elephants, and tourism in KZN on edge following elephant trampling man to death

At least six elephants have been gunned down in less than five months in northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). And in January, a tourist viewing boat came under fire by armed gunmen in KZN. Elephant monitor, Suzette Boshoff, was on the boat that day. She says: “They came to Africa for a beautiful African experience, and they […]

By Jenni Baxter
26-02-23 17:43
in Business
elephant
A Kruger National Park game ranger has shared a video clip of an elephant with an impressive - and sharp-looking - pair of tusks. Photo: CB screenshot

At least six elephants have been gunned down in less than five months in northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). And in January, a tourist viewing boat came under fire by armed gunmen in KZN. Elephant monitor, Suzette Boshoff, was on the boat that day. She says:

“They came to Africa for a beautiful African experience, and they were actually confronted with the most terrifying moment of their lives.”

Tonight at 7pm Carte Blanche confronts authorities to find out what’s going on. (If you live abroad, you can watch the show on Showmax International from Tuesday, in most countries.)

Herd Impunity

A conflict is brewing in northern KwaZulu-Natal, pitting people against elephants. In September last year, Indlovu, a female, trampled a man to death on the east bank of the Jozini Dam. It set in motion a bloody reprisal from the local community, resulting in the ongoing killing of elephants in the area.

It’s a conservation catastrophe that has its roots in a drought seven years ago. Then able to move to the other side of the dam, a great herd of these mammals from a private reserve in Pongola crossed paths with rural communities. Unable to cross back when the rains returned, the elephants stayed, often destroying valuable grazing land in the area.

Now there’s even more violence involved. There are more firearms involved. And the groups are bigger, according to those in the area. Is it just a clash between humans and wildlife, or is it a criminal network at play?

While there were tense encounters before, local communities say the trampling of one of their own was the last straw. Others, though, say there’s something far more sinister at play than a bid to preserve farmland and a recent attack on foreign tourists suggests they could be right. Carte Blanche investigates. (Producer: Nicky Troll | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli) Executive producer, John Webb says:

“It’s hard to be pragmatic staring at the remains of an elephant. Certainly, one that suffered a painful death at the hands of poachers. But, in this country, conversations – even those on conservation – are complex. Whatever the solution in Jozini, it won’t be arrived at by finger-pointing and shrill calls to silence the guns.”

It’s a crime story set in the world of conservation, and it’s affecting tourism along with many other things. Malcolm Thomson, who represents an association of private landowners in the Pongola Jozini region, told Carte Blanche that several providers have seen an increase in cancellations following recent attacks on tourists.

“We’ve experienced a number of cancellations already,” says Thomson. “People are now starting to wonder whether it’s safe to come visit our reserves.”

Watch the show overseas | Watch in SA on DStv Now

 

 

 

Tags: Carte Blanche elephants Jozini Dam KZN Showmax