Christmas came early to rangers in KNP

SKUKUZA – Field rangers of the Kruger National Park (KNP) have received an early Christmas this season.

Showing real dedication, the group of field rangers under the leadership of Mr Kally Ubisi, Skukuza section ranger, was late for the handover.
Ubisi said, “We apologise for being late, but we had to react to an alarm of an alleged poaching in action. We are happy to say that we did save the rhino this morning.”

Ubisi’s son, Ntsuzeko walked arond proudly with a T-shirt saying, “I am the next big thing”, and received a hamper from Ms Arina Jooste. He liked the fizzer in the parcel the most.

A total of 510 Christmas hampers and 644 kiddies’ hampers were handed out to all KNP field rangers and their families in the foyer of the management building in Skukuza on December 12.

An Imperial Retail Logistics team, with the South African National Parks (SANParks) Honorary Rangers, did the handing over.

It was the second year that the two teams worked together to make these early Christmas gifts possible. “We are confident that the hampers will be a morale booster for all in the war against rhino poaching,” said Mr Friedel Spies, operations manager of Imperial Retail Logistics.

While thanking the organisation for the gifts, Gen Johan Jooste, commanding officer of the KNP Special Projects, said, “It is through the support of the South Africans, SANParks Honorary Rangers and partners such as Imperial Retail Logistics, who rally behind our thin green line that we can fight this siege and boost the spirit of unity in the bush.”

There was also a cash handout of R100 000 towards the canine unit, used during poaching incidents to chase after alleged poachers.

Receiving the cheque from Spies, Mr John Turner, the chairman of the Conservation Services Unit, said, “Thank you. I have spent this money already, by getting tracker neckbands for all the dogs in the canine unit.”

With the rangers clapping hands after this donation, Ubisi said they had lost a dog the week before and it was so difficult to call a halt to the search-and-rescue effort. With the tracker neckbands this will not happen again.
“I want to thank everybody this morning for looking out for us. I can promise you this today: We as the field rangers at Skukuza, will not fail. We will win this war against the poachers.”