Kruger National Park

'Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa. It is roughly the same size and shape as Israel or Wales. It covers over 20,000 square kilometres and extends 350 km from north to south and 60 km from east to west.

Flora and fauna

Plants

The Kruger National Park is divided into 6 eco-systems: Baobab sandveld, Mopane scrub, Lebombo knobthorn-marula bushveld, mixed acacia thicket, Combretum-silver clusterleaf woodland on granite and riverine forest. Altogether it has 1,982 species of plants.

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Birds

Out of the 517 species of birds found at Kruger, 253 are residents, 117 non-breeding migrants, and 147 nomads.

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Mammals

All the Big Five game animals are found at Kruger National Park which protects over 147 species of mammals. The park has as of 2004 counted approximately 2,000 Lions, 1,000 Leopards, 200 Cheetahs, 200 African Hunting Dogs, 2,000 Spotted Hyenas, 11,670 Savannah Elephants, 5,000 White Rhinoceros, 350 Black Rhinoceros, 32,000 Burchell's Zebras, 3,000 Hippopotamus, 3,800 Warthogs, 9,000 Giraffes, 25,150 African Buffaloes, 300 Common Eland, 60 Roan Antelopes, 550 Sable Antelopes, 5,000 Greater Kudus, 300 Nyalas, 500 Bushbucks, 5,000 Waterbucks, 300 Reedbucks, 150 Mountain Reedbucks, 17,000 Blue Wildebeests, 200 Tsessebes and over 170,000 Impalas.

Related Topics:
Big Five - Mammal - Lion - Leopard - Cheetah - African Hunting Dog - Spotted Hyenas - Savannah Elephant - White Rhinoceros - Black Rhinoceros - Burchell's Zebras - Hippopotamus - Warthog - Giraffe - African Buffalo - Common Eland - Roan Antelope - Sable Antelope - Greater Kudu - Nyala - Bushbuck - Waterbuck - Reedbuck - Mountain Reedbuck - Wildebeest - Tsessebe - Impala

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The park stopped culling elephants in 1989 and tried translocating them, but by 2004 the population had increased to 11,670 elephants. The park's habitats can only sustain about 8,000 elephants. The park has successfully started using annual contraception in 1995.

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The Kruger National Park holds over 48 tons of ivory in storage. According to Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), it is allowed to sell 30 tons.

Related Topics:
Ivory - Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna

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Reptiles, fish, and amphibians

There are 119 species of reptile, including approximately 5,000 Nile Crocodiles, 52 species of fish, and 35 species of amphibians.

Related Topics:
Reptile - Nile Crocodile - Fish - Amphibian

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