Rescue teams work through night after second mass poisoning of Kruger Park vultures in days

This led to the most extensive co-ordinated response effort and rescues to date. More than 20 individuals across conservation, veterinary, and enforcement sectors played a role in the rescue and response. 

SANParks spokesperson JP Louw said six SANParks rangers and two EWT officials were the initial responders who found a mass of dead vultures on the scene, along with hordes of others that were poisoned and sick. All were within about 500m of the carcass.

They were quickly joined by deployed reinforcements in the form of support teams from the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Briner Veterinary Services and Wildscapes Veterinary Services.

What followed was one of the biggest, most high intensity co-ordinated efforts in Kruger Park history as ranger aerial support and the Hope for Wildlife helicopter joined the efforts. 

The teams arrived to find 116 dead vultures, with another seven dying before they could be helped. In total 102 White-backed vultures, 20 Cape vultures and one Lappet-faced vulture — all listed as endangered or critically endangered species — died. 

Rescue teams set to work to rescue the many other poisoned birds encountered on the scene. Using emergency vulture first aid, they hooked the birds up to drips, pumping them with fluid therapy, atropine and activated charcoal. 

They managed to rescue 84 vultures — including White-backed, Cape and Hooded vultures.

The EWT vulture ambulance transported 45 birds to treatment facilities, while another 39 were airlifted by chopper to the SANParks K9 facility in Phalaborwa. Late on Tuesday night a final group was taken through to Moholoholo for continued intensive care. 

Rescue workers toiled through the night to stabilise the birds and keep them alive. During the night one of the birds died, leaving 83 still alive and recovering on Thursday morning.