ONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR AWARD DEDICATED TO RANGERS

ONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR AWARD DEDICATED TO RANGERS

South African National Parks (SANParks) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Fundisile Mketeni, has dedicated his ANN7 Conservationist of The Year Award to all SANParks Rangers who are involved in combating wildlife crime in the national parks of South Africa.

He said the work of a Ranger is diverse and complex. “However what is unquestionable is that every Ranger has a critical role to play in the management of our Protected Areas.” 

Mketeni who holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Management and has over 25 years working experience in Environmental Management & Bio-diversity Conservation, is a former Deputy Director General, Biodiversity Management at the Department of Environmental Affairs, and was announced the winner of the 2015 Conservationist of the Year at the ANN7 South African of The Year (SATY) Award ceremony held last night (Saturday, 17 October 2015) in Johannesburg.

The SATY Awards come directly after SANParks own Kudu Awards which were held on Friday, 16 October 2015 in Pretoria where Rangers by the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa for their continued commitment in the fight against illicit wildlife crime.

In his acceptance speech at the ANN7 SATY awards, Mketeni said “I am pleased that ANN7 has decided to include this category of conservation in this year’s SATY awards. I would like to dedicate my award to all those Rangers who even right now are fighting the battle against rhino poaching”.

He said Rangers are a key force in protecting the wildlife and have not only become a profession that commands respect but requires courage and commitment. “These heroes and heroines have been under tremendous pressure since the escalation of the assault on our rhino population, and we need to always have them in our thoughts as they hold the line against wildlife crime under extremely difficult circumstances”

According to Mketeni, It would be a travesty if we do not acknowledge their importance in this fight to save our wildlife. “They put their lives on the line every day and I shudder to think what the situation would be if we did not have these dedicated men and women in uniform.” 

“Nature is not there for the exploitation and benefit of a few through illegal means, but should benefit everybody and this is achieved by the work of Rangers on a daily basis,” concludes Mketeni.