South Africa to evacuate about 500 rhino from Kruger National Park

update (29 Aug 2014): SANParks Board Media Release: SANParks notes that in a number of media and social media articles, it is incorrectly stated that SANParks has sold 260 rhinos to private land owners in the Northern Cape. [more]

update (12 Aug 2014): South Africa's Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Mrs Edna Molewa leads implementation of integrated strategic management of rhinoceros in South Africa [more]

According to various news reports, South Africa is going to evacuate about 500 rhino from Kruger National Park in a bid to save them from poachers. It is expected that about 260 rhino will be sold to private buyers, while about 250 will be taken to a safe location. As of 31 July 2014, South Africa has lost 618 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2014. Of the rhinos poached, 400 rhinos were killed in the Kruger National Park, 82 in Limpopo, 52 in KwaZulu Natal, 40 in the North West, 24 in Mpumalanga, 10 in the Eastern Cape, 4 in the Free State, 3 in Gauteng, 1 in the Western Cape, 1 in the Northern Cape and 1 in MNP (Mapungubwe National Park?). We'll keep you posted!