We call upon Peace Parks Foundation, the South African Department of Environmental Affairs & SANParks to reinstate an upgraded, electrified, 3 layer razor wire fence on the border between South Africa and Mozambique.

It has been shown that not only rhino, but now elephant are at huge risk of poaching incursions along this border. It is imperative that a fence be re-instated. The following narrative includes articles with quotes from some who are fighting on the ground, from people who are highly qualified to comment, people who all realise that to protect Kruger Parks wildlife, a fence MUST to reinstated.

"At a meeting on 27 May 1996, Anton Rupert, Founding Patron of Peace Parks Foundation emphasised the significant economic benefits that could accrue to Mozambique if the proposed Trans Frontier Conservation Area’s involving Mozambique were implemented.

The implementation of this concept lead to the removal of part of the border fence between Kruger National Park and Mozambique - the largest section of the original 185km fence between the two parks remains intact. “Three sections totalling some 50km were dropped in 2002 to restore wildlife migration and range expansion, following the creation of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, or peace park, on the borders of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.” IOL 2013

One has to ask who is gaining from the ‘significant economic benefits’? It appears that the rhino and elephants are most certainly not benefitting.

"The vast majority of rhinos killed in South Africa are poached in Kruger National Park, which shares a long, porous border (356km) with Mozambique, where most of the poachers come from. Poachers from Mozambique are easily able to illegally slip across the border into Kruger National Park." Save The Rhino International

“In the first four months of this year there have been nine recorded incursions a day into the Kruger National Park with the sole purpose of poaching rhinos and the world famous game reserve lost 232 rhinos to poachers’ weapons during the same period.” Kim Helfrich, Defence Web, 09 May 2016

"A conservative estimate is about a dozen groups of three poachers each at any time, so about 36 to 40 poachers. There are about three groups entering and exiting the park every day. A poaching group can spend up to four or five days in the park.” And "Yes, we will be putting up a fortified, monitored fence in the south, on the east of the intensive protection zone, from the southern boundary of the park to a latitude north of Skukuza. A fence is part of the overall solution. A fence itself that is not monitored regularly is useless, and means nothing. The world over, people can get through fences. But a physical obstacle along with surveillance can work.” Africa Geographic August 2014 Interview with Major-General Johan Jooste

But a fortified, monitored fence has NOT been put up. Nothing has been done.

"The Kruger National Park says an increase in elephant poaching can be attributed to poachers from Mozambique.Rangers say there’s been a drastic increase in the number of elephants being poached since June last year, with the number standing at 22. Counter-poaching efforts have been stepped up, with rangers working with the local law enforcement and the army. SANParks regional manager Albert Machaba said,“The poachers are mostly coming from Mozambique area and they can also from the communities on the western side, so they are coming from both sides.” We are witnessing not only increased poaching rhino incursions but more recently, elephant poaching. Both these worrying elements are made all the easier by the lack of a fence between the two countries and report after report mentions the lack of the fence as being crucial in the loss of wildlife." news24 14.6.2016

“If you look at last year, Kruger lost 22 or 24 elephants, we are looking at about 24 for this year already.” With finite resources focused on fighting off rhino poachers attacking the south of the park, the north has been more or less left to fend for itself.

“From my perspective, the fence should be replaced,” Vlakteplaas section ranger Marius Snyders says. “Looking at the existing poaching, and that’s my perspective, I cannot talk for South African National Parks on that, but from experience here and what we hear on that side, the fence must be replaced until the poaching is under control.”  in The Citizen 13.06.2016 

Peace Parks says "The fence between Kruger and Limpopo national parks is not a high security fence and was constructed to deter the movement of animals, not people. It is not electrified and not fortified with kaftan fencing."

So, because the original fence was not much of a deterrent, is this any reason why a fence should not be re-instated – one that is higher, of several layers and electrified? 

Peace Parks idea of a Transfrontier Park is plainly not feasible in the current climate of increased wildlife trade.

Is Peace Parks content that South Africa’s wildlife heritage is being stolen on a daily basis just so their original idea stands, for a vanity project? 

A FENCE MUST BE REINSTATED.