Moyahabo Mabeba
LIMPOPO – THE Kruger National Park (KNP) installed three boom gates last week on access roads north of the Sabie River into an area designated as intensive protection zone (IPZ).
The IPZ is a portion where a combination of resources and technology which provide a more secure environment for the rhino in the park have been intensified.
The boom gates are meant to control night movement of people in order to minimise risk factors associated with late travelling between sunset and sunrise.
The boom gates will be manned by rangers and will be operational effectively from Friday.
The IPZ barriers are found on the H1-2 road north east of the Sand River low water bridge, H12 road on the Sabie high level bridge and on the H10 between lower Sabie and Tshokwane.
“We are continuously taking steps to increase security in the park in our quest to continue providing security for our rhinos, which are severely threatenetd by poachers. Restrictions at these areas will allow us to closely monitor the movements associated with nightfall,” said KNP’s general manager: communications and marketing, William Mabasa.
Part of the IPZ’s long term plan is to improve fencing on both the western and eastern borders, which will include fixed obstacles. “These strategies are expected to improve on assessment in terms of surveillance, early warning and detection,” concluded Mabasa.
The installation of the boom gates came after a hand-over of four 4X4 forensic trailers to SANParks.
The trailers, purchased by the department of environmental affairs through funding provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP-GEF) rhino programme, will assist in the investigation of rhino poaching and other wildlife crime.
Improved investigative capacity and crime scene management in respect of rhino poaching related cases are among the measures outlined in government’s integrated strategic management of rhinos, as announced by minister Edna Molewa on August 12 last year.
The overall goal of the UNEP-GEF rhino programme is to improve efforts to combat wildlife crime in South Africa’s Protected Area System, with a focus on rhinos. This is done through inter alia, improved forensic technologies and capabilities, particularly DNA-based forensics and data sharing and coordination systems between relevant groups to better control the recent upsurge in poaching of rhinos in South Africa.
