“We are saddened by the latest developments in the northern part of the Park where the majority of the elephants were poached so far. We lost two elephants at the beginning of this year then it went silent for four months until July when three elephants were poached. This was followed by another two in August, seven in September and then five this month; which brings the total number of elephants poached this year to 19”, said General Manager: Communications and Marketing, William Mabasa.

South African National Parks (SANParks) expressed its shock at the first confirmed elephant poaching incident in the KNP in well over 10 years in May 2014 at Pafuri section of the Park.

The KNP lost 2 elephants the whole of last year.

“Given the situation in the rest of the continent pertaining to widespread poaching of elephants, we cannot allow this destabilization of our keystone species to continue further. We are confident that the dedication and efforts which our rangers and partners in the security sector have displayed towards the fight against rhino will prevail over this latest problem”, concluded Mabasa.