SA celebrates World Wildlife Day
The Department of Environmental Affairs is hosting the 2015 World Wildlife celebrations in the Kruger National Park this week.
This year's theme is "Wildlife crime is serious: Let's get serious about wildlife crime".
Dr Moscow Marumo, Chief Director of Biodiversity Planning and Management in the Department of Environmental Affairs says wildlife crimes affect our rhino, reptiles and insects.
"Wildlife crimes must be countered by any means, it poses a risk to ecosystems and livelihoods," he says.
The celebrations are focused on raising awareness around rhino poaching.
A total of 872 rhino were poached last year in the Kruger National Park.
The park has now established a joint operations centre to identify strategies that can curb rhino poaching.
The military and police also assist rangers in patrolling poaching hotspots.
A local cultural group performs the gumboot dance as part of World Wildlife Day celebrations in the Kruger National Park.
The Kruger National Park choir performs a song titled 'Long live the rhino'.
A local cultural groups on Tuesday presented an item during World Wildlife Day celebrations in the Kruger National Park.
For more news updates follow @JacaNews on Twitter.
File photo: Slindelo Masikane @Slindelo_M