There is also the elephant question in Kruger. Elephants have been responsible for widespread tree destruction in the eastern grasslands which in turn has disrupted raptor breeding cycles as they depend on these tall trees for nesting sites.
According a 2002 report by the Avian Demography Unit, the following 21 bird species are considered the most endangered in Kruger Park. Note that they are the most habitat-specific birds (note Denham's Bustard is not really a Kruger bird).
GT = Globally Threatened
NT = Nationally Threatened
Kruger Parks Most Endangered Bird Species
Bird |
Status
|
Breeding Pairs
|
Estimated numbers
|
Where Best To See Them
|
Cape Vulture
| GT & NT
|
30-100 |
Orpen Area and Central Grasslands
| |
Lesser Kestrel | GT & NT |
100-200
|
Norhtern Kruger | |
Corn Crake | GT & NT |
200-500
|
Alluvial Floodplains North of Shingwedzi | |
Pink-backed Pelican | NT |
Occasional Visitor
|
Crocodile River | |
White-backed Night-Heron | NT |
40-60
|
100-150
|
Crocodile River, Lebombo |
Saddle-billed Stork | NT |
20-30
|
40-80
|
Shingwedzi and Letaba Rivers |
Hooded Vulture | NT |
50-100
|
500-1000
|
Central grasslands |
White-backed Vulture | NT |
500-1000
|
2000-3000
|
Satara and Central Grasslands |
Lappet-faced Vulture |
NT
|
40-50
|
90-120
|
Northern central Grasslands |
White-headed Vulture
|
NT
|
60-100
|
120-220
|
Central Grasslands
|
Tawny Eagle
|
NT
|
500-700
|
1000-1500
|
Throughout the Park
|
Martial Eagle
|
NT
|
80-100
|
200-300
|
Well-wooded Areas
|
Bateleur
|
NT
|
550-650
|
1200-1700
|
Throughout the Park
|
African Marsh-Harrier
|
GT & NT
|
5-8
|
Marshlands and vleis, particularly in the sweetveld
|
|
African Finfoot
|
NT
|
30-50
|
100-150
|
Nkuhlu on the Sabie River
|
Kori Bustard
|
NT
|
80-100
|
160-250
|
Eastern Grasslands
|
Denhams Bustard
|
GT & NT
|
Occasional visitor
|
South-eastern grasslands around Lower Sabie
|
|
African Grass-Owl
|
NT
|
50-80
|
100-200
|
Central grasslands, Lower Sabie
|
Pel's Fishing-Owl
|
NT
|
15-20
|
30-50
|
Luvuvhu and Sabie Rivers
|
Southern Ground-Hornbill
|
NT
|
300-400 (groups)
|
900-1600
|
Throughout the Park
|
Yellow-billed Oxpecker
|
NT
|
100-200
|
200-500
|
North of Mopani in the Punda and Pafuri areas
|
