• Over 120 vultures were poisoned by poachers in Kruger Park after feeding on an elephant carcass.

• Rescue teams save dozens of birds with help from helicopters and vets.

123 vultures have died after eating a poisoned elephant carcass in the Mahlangeni area of the Kruger National Park. Poachers used the poison to kill the birds and take their body parts to sell illegally.

The poisoning was picked up just after 6am on Tuesday by the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s warning system. Rangers and vets rushed to the scene but found 116 vultures already dead.

They called for help from vet teams and helicopter support. The teams came from Moholoholo Wildlife Centre, Briner and Wildscapes vets, as well as SANParks.

JP Louw from SANParks said it was the first time their helicopters were used in a vulture rescue this big.

The team managed to rescue 45 birds on site. In total, 84 were found alive, but one later died. That means 83 vultures are now recovering.

Another 39 were flown by helicopter to the K9 centre in Phalaborwa for treatment.

“This horrible event is part of a bigger problem,” said Louw. “Poachers are using poison more often — not just for vultures but also for lions. Their body parts are used for muthi.”

Last year, SANParks ranger Don English warned that vultures could be wiped out from the park in five years if this continues.

He said poachers kill vultures because they circle above dead animals, which helps rangers spot where poachers have been.

English and others are begging the government to stop the easy sale of these deadly poisons. They want permits to be needed to buy them.

After a poisoning like this, rangers burn the dead animals to stop other animals from dying too.

Even though many birds died, SANParks said they were glad to save some and thanked everyone who helped.

Pictured above: Rangers attending to the poisoning scene.

Image source: Supplied.