Field kits donated to MTPA rangers
By meeting the equipment shortage, they aim to the improve rangers' working conditions, well-being and resilience. These kits include tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, backpacks, mosquito nets, rain suits, medical kits, binoculars and more.
As keepers, monitors and guardians of the environment, it is important for field rangers to have all the equipment they need to perform their duties.
On Tuesday June 7, WWF South Africa’s Khetha programme, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), donated field ranger kits to the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) for their rangers at the Mthethomusha Nature Reserve.
Field rangers serve the country, the conservation areas, the communities, and future generations.
The relentless pressure from wildlife crime syndicates behind the poaching of rhinos and trafficking of horn has forced rangers to take on an ever greater law enforcement role. This comes with significant challenges, as many conservation areas are under major resource constraints, exacerbated by the loss of tourism income under lockdown.
Thenjiwe Nkosi, a member of the MTPA board, said rangers are like the guardians of our planet’s most precious assets and it is unnerving to think that every day they go to work and their lives are at risk as a result of human greed, cruelty and desperate agendas.
“The South African Government has released the latest poaching stats. It shows a devastating number of 451 rhinos that were killed by poachers between January and December 2021. This is the first time in six years that we have experienced such a huge increase in poaching in the country. We sincerely hope that this is not a sign of what is to come. Thankfully, 451 remains more than 20% lower than the number in 2019. This shows that the overall trend in poaching is continuing decline.”
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A principal field ranger, Sikhumbuzo Thwala, spoke on behalf of the equipment recipients. He said as field rangers they appreciate everything they have received from the WWF South Africa’s Khetha programme, with the support of USAID, and that it would make a huge impact for them.
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“Due to the shortage we have sometimes had, we were unable to do some of our duties properly. With these kits, we will be able to do our work easier during load-shedding, at night and during the day.
We would like to urge the sponsors to continue doing their work in our camps, because we have a few challenges that still need to be addressed. We have water shortages. We also have a camp that was destroyed by community unrest.”
