Is there poaching in Kruger National Park?
In 2019, there were 594 recorded poaching incidents throughout South Africa. It is estimated that the Kruger National Park is home to some 7 000 to 8 000 rhinos, and unfortunately, they are the largest poaching targets in southern Africa. The park has intensive protected zones, which houses around 5 000 rhinos.
What do anti poaching rangers do?
Rangers will record the signs and location of illegal activity, as well as removing snares and traps that they find along their patrols. They take action against illegal activities in accordance with the national legislation but sadly in many countries, rangers are under-equipped to deal with poachers.
How many rhinos are left in Kruger National Park?
Kruger is now home to fewer than 4,000 rhinos, down from more than 10,000 in 2010. The population is divided between 3,549 white rhinos, which are grazers with square lips, and 268 black rhinos, which have pointed upper lips that help them pluck leaves and fruit from trees.
Are there white rhinos in Kruger National Park?
In the Kruger National Park White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) occur mostly in woodlands between the Sabie and Crocodile Rivers, and less around Shingwedzi and Letaba.
Where are elephants poached the most?
2016 saw an increase in elephant poaching within South Africa and particularly Kruger National park when 46 elephants were illegally killed….Recent Elephant Poaching Statistics in South Africa (1980-30 June, 2021)
| South Africa – Elephants | Elephants Poached |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 102 |
| 1982 | 52 |
| 1983 | 29 |
What happens when poachers get caught?
A judge could sentence a convicted poacher to jail, assess fines, and order restitution. A restitution order could be extraordinarily costly, depending on the value of the animal taken.
How many lions are in Kruger National Park?
It is estimated that there are currently 1,600 lions in the Kruger National Park, and they are nearly all in tiptop condition.
How many people are killed in Kruger National Park?
The death toll in South Africa’s Kruger National Park fire has risen to 22. It follows the death of three people who were initially rescued with severe burns. Most of those killed were women from neighbouring villages who had been hired to cut grass.
Is it illegal to poach elephants?
Despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers. The ban on international trade was introduced in 1989 by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) after years of unprecedented poaching.
Can you shoot poachers in Africa?
To stop poachers, South African landowners and Kruger park have hired battalions of mercenaries and spent millions equipping them with high-tech gear, planes and drones. The law allows them to shoot only after they are shot at, but as one mercenary told me, “What happens in the bush stays in the bush.”