In 1989 they were added to the international list of the most endangered species, with only sixteen left in the Greater Addo area. Today Addo is home to roughly 550 elephant.
More recently the Addo Elephant National Park has expanded to include Africa's 'Big 7' - elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whale and great white shark. It has done this by expanding along the coast from the Sundays River mouth and by adding an offshore marine reserve that includes St Croix Island and Bird Island, both essential breeding grounds for penguins and gannets.