Poacher Threat Makes South African Park Consider Rhino Evacuation

Johannesburg: Officials at Kruger park, South Africa's flagship wildlife reserve, are considering a plan to move some rhinos out of the park in an attempt to protect them from poachers.

Kruger spokesman William Mabasa said Monday that no decision has been made on the plan. Mabasa says the idea would be to "spread the risk" to other reserves because the Kruger park is heavily targeted by poachers, many of whom cross from neighboring Mozambique.

The national parks service says about 560 rhinos have been poached in South Africa so far this year. Well over half were killed in Kruger park.

Rhino horn is worth a fortune on the illegal market in parts of Asia. Some Vietnamese and Chinese view it as a status symbol and a healing agent.