Interested buyers have been called to submit a written offer before tomorrow to buy 50 white rhinos from SA National Parks (SANParks).

SANParks head of conservation services Dr Hector Magome said its board had approved the sale of wildlife, specifically highly valued species, in 1997 so money raised from the sales could be used for the Park Development Fund.

He said the fund had already enabled SANParks to buy 500 000ha of land, which had been incorporated into national parks. He stressed that the white rhino was not an endangered species in South Africa. The population had grown to more than 5 000 in the Kruger National Park and more than 12 000 in the country, Magome said.

Animal Rights Africa spokesperson Michele Pickover expressed concern that the rhinos would end up being bought by hunting outfits or zoos. She said there was no scientific or ecological reason to remove 50 rhinos from the national parks and that SANParks was motivated by financial gain.

Hunters pay as much as R600 000 for one white rhino. - African Eye News Service

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