KNP celebrates Ranger Day
Being a ranger is more than just a job; it requires individuals to have courage and self-discipline while also working as a team.
The Kruger National Park’s (KNP) management and staff celebrated and honoured its rangers during its World Ranger Day celebrations.
The event was held at the Rangers’ Monument at Paul Kruger Gate on July 31.
The managing executive of KNP, Oscar Mthimkhulu, assured the rangers that their hard work is noticed and thanked them for the daily sacrifices they make to protect nature and the animals within the park.
“The sacrifices that our rangers make to protect the animals, especially the threatened rhinos, see them put their lives in danger on daily basis. They are targeted by the poachers and can be attacked by animals at any time. They always wake up and report for duty to protect our parks. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed and as the KNP we will continue to give the support that you need,” he said.
Mthimkhulu also said being a ranger is not just a job, but a calling, because it needs courage and self-discipline among individuals, and functioning as a team at the same time.
“It also needs someone who can be trusted and not sell out, so that they can also protect one another from poachers and animals. I would like to condemn those who are helping the poachers and warn them to stop, because they will be caught – one way or the other,” he said.
The SANParks board chairperson, Pam Yako, said this day was dedicated to the men and women who devote their lives to protecting the inheritance and heritage for present and future generations.
“They are beacons of environmental stewardship, inspiring the world with innovative conservation practices, and they should be celebrated.”
According to Yako, 148 rangers, globally, lost their lives during the period June 2022 to May 2023, due to animal attacks, death in service, homicide, and occupational and vehicle accidents.
“In Africa alone we have lost 65 rangers and today we want to pay a special tribute to those men and women of honour. South Africa is battling the threat against its fauna and flora on so many fronts – from poaching, illegal harvesting of plants, illegal fishing, and dumping of waste in the oceans. As a result, much of the Ranger Corps’ duties are focused on anti-poaching activities, leaving many other operational requirements, such as area integrity management, seldom attended to.”
She said the poaching of wildlife continues unabated in many parts of the country. “However, in the same breath it would be so easy for us to concentrate on the alarming figures, but it would be very unfair to the men and women who risk their lives fighting poaching every day. If it were not for the efforts of these rangers, the picture we are currently seeing in the KNP would be much more tragic and desperate than it currently is.”
Yako condemned the killing of rangers. “I would like to pay a special tribute to our departed rangers for dedicating their lives to protecting our wildlife. We stand together with the world as we celebrate and salute these courageous and caring heroes that we call rangers.”
She concluded by saying if members of the public would like to support ranger health and wellness, they can donate through the SANParks Honorary Ranger’s Project Embrace, which aims to provide programmes and structures supporting ranger well-being and resilience. More information is available on the SANParks website.
