Jozini Dam: Twenty-five slaughtered elephants later, tourists in a viewing boat come under poachers’ gunfire
Jozini Dam: Twenty-five slaughtered elephants later, tourists in a viewing
boat come under poachers’ gunfire
Tony Carnie, Daily Maverick
January 12, 2023
See link
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-12-jozini-dam-twenty-five-slaughtered-elephants-later-tourists-in-a-viewing-boat-come-under-poachers-gunfire/
for photos and video.
Tourists viewing elephants from a boat on the Jozini/Pongolapoort Dam in
northern KwaZulu-Natal ducked for cover on Wednesday as suspected elephant
poachers opened fire.
Eight foreign tourists and four South Africans came under gunfire attack on
a double-decker floating tour boat in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday —
unwitting bystanders in a broader drama involving the recent slaughter of
at least 20 elephants from a wandering herd now “trapped” on the borderline
between Eswatini and South Africa.
The tourists — who came under fire shortly after 10.30am on the eastern
shores of the Jozini/Pongolapoort dam, which is on the southern border
between SA and Eswatini — dived for shelter as several shots were fired on
their elephant-viewing tour boat.
Cowering on the decks of the “Jozenic” tour boat, the group took cover
after being fired upon, allegedly by a group of nearly 20 armed men linked
to the recent slaughter of about 25 elephants and other illegal wildlife
poaching activity around Jozini Dam.
Local elephant and rhino monitor Suzette Boshoff, who was on the boat when
the vessel was fired on, described the attack as “the scariest day of my
life”.
It is understood that there were eight foreign tourists on the boat — five
Germans, two Americans and one Australian — along with four South Africans.
Over recent months, several elephant carcasses have been discovered along
the shoreline of Jozini Dam after a herd of more than 70 elephants went
walkabout during a severe drought more than seven years ago.
The herd, originally from the private Pongola Game Reserve, wandered into
Swaziland via the shallow lake shores, before returning to South Africa
around 2016.
The herd later ran into conflict with rural communities — culminating in
the death of a local resident in September 2022, who was trampled by an
elephant cow.
The exact circumstances of that incident remain unclear, but it is
understood that the cow went on the attack in retaliation for the killing
of its calf by elephant poachers.
Some sources have suggested that the death of resident Bheki Nyawo
triggered a family vendetta against the herd, leading to the killing of up
to 25 elephants in the area over recent months.
The conflict has been exacerbated by attempts to control illegal
gill-netting of fish in Jozini Dam by criminal syndicates, along with
disputes over cattle grazing in a local nature reserve close to the
Eswatini border.
According to Boshoff, about 25 of the original herd of 74 elephants appear
to have been poached in recent months. In one of the most recent incidents,
an elephant carcass was discovered floating in the dam on New Year’s Day
with one of its tusks removed.
Appeal for National Intervention
Heinz de Boer, a Democratic Alliance member of the KwaZulu-Natal
Legislature and provincial party spokesman on environmental affairs, has
condemned the latest attack on tourists and elephants and appealed for
national intervention.
“Armed groups of poachers have now completely laid siege to the eastern
shores of the lake, with several elephant carcasses recently found, while
dozens of gunshots have also been reported in the region,” he said.
“Guards near the Eswatini border have allegedly also come under attack and
infrastructure damaged and torched by the armed gang.
“Furthermore, the DA has now also received video and photographic evidence
of a tour boat coming under fire by armed gangs who continue to lay illegal
gill nets in the lake.
“The rampant lawlessness and decimation of flora and fauna within this
community has long been highlighted, with the conflict brewing for years.
Yet, to date, government has failed to secure this tourist and wildlife
haven.”
De Boer alleged that the lake was being “systematically stripped of its
fish stock” by poachers, while concerned locals tried to halt the poaching.
“The DA will escalate the ongoing war against poaching to the highest
levels of government and demands the swift arrests of those who believe
they can destroy our natural heritage and tourism sector. The situation can
no longer continue.”
Boshoff told Our Burning Planet that 12 charges of attempted murder had
been laid at the Pongola Police Station on Wednesday, but a SAPS
spokesperson did not respond to requests for official confirmation of the
complaint.
Boshoff, however, remains concerned about the future of the displaced
elephant herd, fearing that it will continue to be slaughtered unless there
is urgent intervention.
“I have been begging authorities to get this herd out of harm’s way. These
animals are trapped and it breaks my heart. We need to find a safe place
for them.