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Taking, sharing photos might lead poachers to next kill in Kruger

Geotagged selfies might be leading poachers to their next kill. Stock photo.
Geotagged selfies might be leading poachers to their next kill. Stock photo.
Image: Jackie Clausen

The Kruger National Park is urging visitors to switch off the geotagging function on their cellphones when snapping and sharing pictures of wildlife as it could lead poachers to their next kill.

Geotagging refers to the process of adding geographical information, or metadata, to images that shows exactly where they are taken.

The request comes as management mulls cutting off cellphone signals in the park because poachers can potentially use geotagged photographs to track the whereabouts of rhinos and elephants.

"We believe poachers use social media for intelligence," said Kruger National Park spokesperson Ike Phaahla.

Poaching remains a problem at the park. Seven suspected poachers have been arrested in three separate incidents since the start of the year. There were carrying hunting rifles, ammunition and poaching equipment.

SANParks said in its 2018/19 annual report that 384 rhino were poached during that period, down from 502 the previous year, while the number of elephant poached fell by 35.1% (48) compared with 74 in the previous year.

Phaahla said the aim of the potential changes was to deal with the impact of mobile technology which, apart from contributing to poaching, was contributing to speeding and congestion at the park  as visitors rushed to sightings.

"Switch off geotagging on phones when taking pictures," said Phaahla.

The department of environment, forestry and fisheries issued an alert in December to skippers, tour boat operators, wildlife photographers and sunset cruise operators to exercise "restraint and caution" around whales feeding off the west coast of South Africa.

"Whales are protected by law in South Africa," said the department, adding that regulations were "clear that, except under a permit specifically allowing one to approach closer, we all need to keep 300m away from any whale.

"There is a high possibility whales can abandon an area if disturbed too much."