The Documentary Podcast

Does Kruger deserve a park?

Nov 8, 2025
Kanye Kobo, a BBC Africa reporter from Johannesburg, dives into the heated debate surrounding Kruger National Park's name, exploring its ties to South Africa's apartheid past. Luiz Fernando Toledo, a BBC Brazil journalist, discusses the remarkable comeback of the pirarucu fish, focusing on conservation successes and the stark economic disparities faced by local fishermen. Lastly, Tejas Vaidya introduces us to Dr. Chandarana and his incredible Dental Museum, showcasing the world’s largest toothbrush collection and the fascinating history of dental care.
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INSIGHT

Kruger Name Is A Historical Tension

  • Paul Kruger founded Kruger National Park to protect wildlife but also symbolizes exclusion for many Black South Africans.
  • The park's name thus embodies a tension between conservation legacy and colonial-era displacement.
ANECDOTE

Worker's 1968 Contrast Between Animals And People

  • A 1968 Black South African who worked in Kruger Park contrasted animal freedom with Black people's lack of freedom.
  • He said Africans could carry guns to protect whites from animals while they themselves lacked liberty.
INSIGHT

Renaming Balances Identity And Practical Needs

  • Name changes in post-apartheid South Africa aim to reflect diversity and break from colonial legacies.
  • But debates now weigh symbolic renaming against urgent social and economic priorities.
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