City Parks on a mission to stop poaching

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoos (JCPZ) has confirmed that poaching in the Kloofendal Nature Reserve and other natural areas throughout the City of Johannesburg is rife and has vowed to act swiftly and decisively in addressing the problem.

The Roodepoort Record reported last week that incidents of poaching have increased sharply in recent months in natural areas and parks throughout the greater Roodepoort region and that local conservation organisations, including JCPZ, have their hands full in dealing with the scourge of activity that is wreaking havoc on wildlife species.

JCPZ spokesperson Jenny Moodley says that the heightened poaching activity in the reserve became evident three months ago, and the entity has been waging a battle against poachers since.

Their quick response to the situation seems to be making a difference, with JCPZ park rangers supported by the park’s security provider conducting daily patrols throughout the reserve, scanning for snares and removing them.

“Unfortunately, our team has discovered several animals that were caught in the snares,” says Moodley. “Some animals were still in the snares and already dead or dying.”

Moodley says that park rangers have, in just one week, removed more than 40 snares from the reserve.

“They have also come across blood-stained bags, presumably used to carry the slain animals from the reserve.”

Moodley admitted that the poaching situation is a dire one, but denied reports that between 15 and 20 Mountain Reedbuck had been caught in snares.

“Our rangers in collaboration with security personnel, The Friends of Kloofendal and community members, have identified a total of eight dead animals, six of which died as a result of snares. The cause of death of two animals could not be determined.”

She adds that a further two animals were rescued from snares and are currently being rehabilitated to be released back into the wild.

JCPZ senior manager for protected areas and environmental enforcement, Bishop Ngobeli, says the entity currently has 37 park rangers deployed throughout the city, up from only 14 two years ago.

He adds that there are another 80 rangers in training.

“Their mission is to patrol and secure the parks and reserves within their respective areas, keeping them safe for both the fauna and flora, as well as for the people that visit these spaces.

“In Region C, which is the greater Roodepoort region, we patrol all developed parks and cemeteries including the ridges above Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, the Roodekrans Ridges, and the Manie Mulder Adventure Centre.

“We are also in talks with officials from Mogale City to collaborate with them since poaching is a crime without boundaries.”

Ngobeli adds that life for the park rangers is not always easy. “As it stands, it is only within the powers of the park rangers to perform certain tasks as they are not considered to be law enforcement officials.

“We are in the process of amending some laws and by-laws and proposing some new legislation that will see park rangers greatly empowered in this regard.

“The goal is to see our unit becoming an environmental enforcement unit. We have already embarked on further training for our rangers so that they are ready when these laws and bylaws are implemented.

“In the meanwhile, we will work with reserve management, local communities, and conservation organisations to ensure that poachers are stopped in their tracks.”