Only two elephants have been poached from the Kruger National Park during the past four years, but as many as 44 white rhinos have been taken, according to figures supplied in Parliament today by Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Giving a written reply to a question from Gareth Morgan, the Democratic Alliance spokesman, Van Schalkwyk told him that two crocodiles and one hippo were poached in that time.
The worst hit species was the impala, which lost 109 individuals in the four years.
Thirty-one other antelopes were also taken.
Three lion were poached in 2006, and another was stolen earlier in 2004.
The only other national park where poaching was a problem (apart from the marine parks where abalone were constantly under pressure) was Addo Park, which lost kudu, bush buck, bush pig, warthog, common duiker, porcupine and also abalone, though no figures were given.
Source: The Times, 9 May 2008
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