Scientific Services

Kruger National Park in South Africa is famous for its wildlife and is a key part of the country’s natural heritage. Managing wildlife is important to protect biodiversity while also supporting the economy. In most years, the South African National Parks (SANParks) conducts surveys to count animals in Kruger. These surveys help park managers make decisions about conservation and animal management.

To learn more about how we count animals see Part 1.

SANParks counted the animal populations in Kruger in 2023. These include all the big mammals and crocodiles. This blog will share the main findings. It will also explain why these animal counts are important for Kruger’s future.

Key Findings from the 2023 Survey

The survey counted animals across 19,194 km² of Kruger National Park. Some animals, like impala, buffalo, and zebra are common, while others, like, black rhino, roan and tsessebe antelope are rare.

Trends and Changes

Animal numbers, together with management styles, have changed over time in the Kruger National Park. In the past, park managers focused on controlling animal numbers by culling, which means they selectively killed individuals of certain animal species. They built many waterholes, so more than 80% of Kruger was within 5 km of water. Managers burned grass throughout the park every three years to improve grazing for animals. Even though managers did all this work, the numbers of many animal species dropped from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. Some of the changes seen were beyond the control of park managers, such as droughts during the early 1980s and 1990s and the fencing of the western boundary during the 1970s.

Since the mid-1990s, things have changed. Culling has mostly stopped. Managers now use patch burns in smaller areas, to mimic more natural burn regimes. They have removed some dams and closed boreholes to ensure water availability mimics a more natural state. Some fences have been removed and only 643 km of fences remain, mainly for disease control and marking borders. All and all, a greater conservation area has allowed for a management style that encourages nature to manage itself to a greater extent.

Many animal species, including giraffes, elephants, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest, have grown in numbers since the 1990s, while some, like rhinos, have decreased because of poaching. Rare antelope populations, including roan and sable, are slowly increasing.

The droughts in 2015 and 2016 had small but variable effects on animal numbers. Grazers such as buffalo and hippo dropped in numbers, but their numbers are recovering. Elephants and giraffes are browsers and were not greatly affected by the drought.

View/Download Most recent counts of Kruger’s wildlife and trends over time

Balancing Conservation and Economy

Kruger National Park is not only about protecting animals, but also wants to help local communities and support the economy. Tourism creates jobs and brings money to the area. Sometimes, animals are removed from the park for valid reasons which include the provision of meat or live animals to other reserves. For instance, SANParks is part of the South African Wildlife Economy Initiative. This program helps communities benefit from wildlife while also protecting nature. Animals from Kruger are sometimes given to other parks and communities to help increase animal numbers in those places. Removals, however, are evaluated carefully to make sure animal populations remain healthy.

Looking Ahead

The 2023 aerial survey shows that most species in Kruger are doing well. Elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra population numbers are amongst those populations that are increasing. Impala, kudu, and waterbuck populations have remained stable over the past 10 years. Hippo numbers have increased significantly since the late 1990s with a temporary decrease in numbers during the 2015/2016 drought. All four rare antelope species numbers are slowly but surely increasing after a precipitous drop in their numbers during the 1990s. However, both rhino species remain in danger due to poaching, and crocodile numbers have decreased over time, from a high at the end of the 1990s linked to changes in river conditions that impacted crocodile diets. SANParks will continue using aerial surveys to monitor wildlife. This information will guide decisions about conservation and animal removals. The goal is to keep Kruger a healthy, thriving park for both animals and people.

Wildlife in Kruger is a precious resource. Protecting it requires careful planning, good data, and cooperation between conservationists, government, and local communities. The work being done today will ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty of Kruger National Park.