KNP RANGERS RECEIVE QUAD VEHICLES FOR PATROL

KNP RANGERS RECEIVE QUAD VEHICLES

FOR PATROL

The patrolling of the Kruger National Park (KNP)’s terrain keeps evolving as the Ranger Corps received 10 quad vehicles; as part of the ‘ground mobility’ capacity and support in the anti-poaching operations inside the Park today, 14 September 2015. Funding for six of the quad vehicles was made possible through the US based Howard G Buffet Foundation (HGBF).

“We continue to be invaded by well-equipped poachers that aim to illegally capitalize on our rhino on daily basis. For as long as this scourge continues at the rate it is on at the moment, we need to continuously equip our Rangers with the latest field equipment available; including the all-terrain vehicles such as these to enhance their effectiveness,” said KNP’s GM: Communications and Marketing, William Mabasa

Rangers will receive training for the new quad vehicles, to afford them the best way to effectively utilize the vehicles for their specific terrain within the KNP.

SANParks received an initial grant funding of R254.8 million from HGBF in 2014 to support anti-poaching operations in the KNP. This incorporated the establishment of ‘Air Mobility’ capacity’ and included the purchase of the first helicopter in September 2014.

Subsequent to that initial funding, the Howard G Buffet Foundation granted SANParks a further R37.7 million to purchase a second Airbus AS350 B3e helicopter, with similar specifications of night flying capability, to further increase the capacity of SANParks’ rhino anti-poaching flight operations in the KNP. The commissioning of that helicopter took place this year on 19 March.

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Captions

Photo 1:

Crocodile Bridge Section Ranger, Neels van Wyk and his ranger team, test drive one of the Quad Vehicles received at the handover today. Next to him are Sergeant Wilson Siwela, and at the back Rangers William Nkuna, Albert Khosa and the dog.

Photo 2

The new fleet to the total value of R3.6 million comes with a 2 year motor plan.