SKUKUZA – The Kruger National Park (KNP) hopes its anti-poaching team will continue its good work – and not to allow the actions of a few to derail its efforts.

This was the wish expressed by KNP managing executive Mr Glenn Phillips during a ceremony to honour the ranger corps on Sunday. It was part of the World Ranger Day celebrations at Skukuza Gate. Activities included a guard of honour, wreath-laying ceremony, rangers’ drill and formal proceedings.

“Despite the recent ranger arrests in the KNP, we want to urge our entire anti-poaching team to continue to maintain the good reputation that they are renowned for and not to allow actions of a few to derail them from keeping focus,” Phillips said.

He was referring to KNP regional ranger, Mr Rodney Landela, who had been arrested for rhino-poaching-related offences with a veterinary technician of the Animal Health Directorate in Skukuza, Mr Kenneth Motshotso, in the park last week.

World Ranger Day is supported by the 54 member associations of the International Rangers Federation (IRF). It is marked annually to acknowledge game rangers as dedicated guardians of the world’s natural heritage.

It is used to commemorate the many rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate those and the work they do to protect the world’s natural and cultural treasures.

The first World Ranger Day was observed in 2007 on the 15th anniversary of the founding of the IRF. Over the past 10 years about 1 000 rangers have lost their lives worldwide, most of them due to poaching activities.

“The job of a ranger with all its associated dangers and sacrifices is like a calling,” Phillips said.

“It needs men and women who keep focus out there in the bush and very few people have the courage and necessary skills to perform this important task other than rangers.

“We encourage everybody who understands what they face on daily basis to rally behind them.”

Earlier this year ranger Mr Enos Mabila was killed and his colleague, Mr Killers Ubisi, wounded in the line of duty in the KNP.

Rangers from the three national parks in the Northern Region of SANParks also came together at Marakele National Park. The event was also attended by the honorary rangers and SAPS, among other stakeholders.

Minister for environmental affairs, Ms Edna Molewa, paid homage in a media message to game rangers and the honorary rangers who have dedicated their lives to working to protect South Africa’s wildlife and natural heritage.

“In South Africa, our rangers are faced with a daily battle to protect our rhinos and a key part of our natural heritage. Were it not for these brave men and women who risk their lives daily to protect species in our natural world, many would face extinction,” she said.

Paying tribute to the SANParks Honorary Rangers, Molewa thanked the volunteers for offering their free time to contribute to conservation and the elimination of wildlife crimes.

“These volunteers do not get paid for the work they do to assist rangers out in the field. What they do, whether over weekends or at night, is simply for the love of conservation.

“It is an example that can be followed by all of us as we join hands and work together to ensure the survival of species of plants and wildlife for generations to come,” she concluded.