In recent years, Kruger, the jewel in the crown of South Africa’s national park system, has lost many rhinos to poachers, but its elephants have remained safe. Until now. For the first time in a decade, a bull elephant in the park has fallen to poachers, who hacked off his tusks.
“This poaching incident really shocked us, ” said Reymond Thakhuli, acting head of communications at South African National Parks(SANParks). “It says that we need to be prepared for anything.”