Poachers have killed 249 animals in the Kruger National Park in the past four years, including at least 44 white rhinos, the Democratic Alliance has said.

"A reply to a DA parliamentary question to the minister of environmental affairs and tourism has revealed that, over the past four years, at least 44 white rhinos and 31 buffaloes were killed by poachers," DA spokesperson Gareth Morgan said in a statement.

He added that the Kruger figures might be much higher because "many of the animals killed by poachers disappear without a trace".

Kruger has the ability to monitor poaching, unlike a majority of the other 21 parks managed by SA National Parks. -

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