A tragic incident at South Africa’s renowned Kruger National Park has led to the deaths of at least 124 vultures, who consumed the carcass of an elephant that had been poisoned by poachers using agricultural pesticides.

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Authorities at the park reported on Thursday that a quick and coordinated emergency operation spanning nearly a full day rescued 84 vultures. This response involved helicopters, ambulances, and intensive care. Unfortunately, one of the rescued vultures later succumbed to its injuries.

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The discovery of this mass poisoning was prompted by an alert from a remote sensing system used by an environmental group. The system flagged suspicious activity in a remote area of the park, leading to the mobilisation of a joint team of rangers. They quickly identified the incident, marking it as the largest mass vulture poisoning event ever recorded in southern Africa.

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The 124 vultures that died included 102 white-backed vultures, 20 Cape vultures, and one lappet-faced vulture. All of these species are classified as either endangered or critically endangered. Experts believe that poachers are increasingly using agricultural toxins on elephant carcasses to target vultures. The toxins kill the birds, which otherwise could alert rangers by circling overhead.

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Vultures play an essential role in ecosystems, helping to reduce the spread of disease by consuming the carcasses of deceased animals. However, many vulture species across Africa face a grave threat from poisoning and other dangers, which have led to their endangered status.

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