The number of elephants being poached in South Africa has soared by a massive 400% since the start of the year.

And there are fears that hunting the wild animals, which are killed for their tusks, could now take over from rhino slaying - which has seen a fall of 17% over the same period.

In Kruger National Park , one of Africa's biggest game reserves, heartless poachers usually wait until nightfall and hide in bushes before pouncing on their prey.

Only 15% of the huge park is open to tourists, while the rest is wild - and that is where the hunters take root.

Helicopters work with teams on the ground in a bid to save elephants by halting poachers in their tracks.