A chaotic scene unfolded in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday after residents were filmed skinning an elephant that had been destroyed by wildlife authorities during a botched rescue operation.
Nongoma residents help themselves to elephant killed in rescue operation
The elephant was one of six that had escaped from the nearby Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) on Tuesday.
According to reports, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, tasked with managing the situation, initially planned to guide the elephants back to the reserve using a helicopter.
However, adverse weather delayed the operation. By Wednesday, five elephants were successfully returned to the park, but one animal, injured and deemed a safety threat, was destroyed.
Following the incident, a crowd gathered to harvest meat from the carcass, with videos circulating online showing people skinning the animal and discussing its parts, including the trunk, which was reportedly removed within minutes.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo stated:
“Community members are allowed to use the meat of destroyed animals provided that tusks, tails, and other protected parts are removed first for conservation purposes. However, we strongly discourage sharing such videos online as they may damage perceptions of the province and Ezemvelo’s work.”
Is it illegal to slaughter elephants in South Africa?
Elephants are classified as vulnerable species under South African law and are strictly protected by conservation policies.
Killing an elephant is prohibited unless specific circumstances, such as safety risks or injuries, justify it.
Decisions to euthanise an elephant, as in this case, are tightly regulated and carried out by licensed professionals.
Community members consuming meat from an elephant destroyed under such circumstances are not violating the law, provided wildlife officials have first removed legally protected parts like tusks and tails.
However, hunting or killing elephants without authorisation carries severe legal consequences.
Are elephants safe for human consumption?
While elephant meat is not widely consumed, it can be eaten. In this case, the community harvested the meat shortly after the animal was killed, reducing the risk of spoilage.
However, wildlife experts caution that consuming bush meat comes with potential health risks, including exposure to diseases transmitted by wild animals.
