Double victory for SANParks at Rhino Conservation Awards

Earlier today the event kicked off on social media with a message from Andrew Campbell, CEO of the Game Rangers Association of Africa.

https://www.facebook.com/rhinoconservationawards/videos/2772046793023102/

The winners were announced at about 12:00.

Best field ranger

• Winner: Samuel Loware of Uganda Wildlife Authority.
  Because of his effective monitoring and data collection skills, Loware has made a significant impact on the increase of both giraffe and lion populations in the Kidepo Valley National Park. He is now conducting habitat assessments for the reintroduction of rhino into Kidepo, and other translocations of wildlife to ensure the conservation of these key species.
• First runner-up: Julius Kaputo of Conservation Lower Zambezi, Zambia.
• Second runner-up: Losas Lanamunyi of Northern Rangelands Trust, Kenya.

Best game ranger

• Winner: Don English of SANParks.
  For his outstanding leadership in the Kruger National Park where, against all odds, through sheer tenacity and persistence and with the support of his ranger teams, he has managed to decrease rhino poaching activities year on year in the Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ).
• First runner-up: Benson Kanyembo of Conservation South Luangwa, Zambia.
• Second runner-up: Albert Smith of SANParks, South Africa.

Best conservation practitioner

• Winner: SANParks’ Kruger National Park Airwing. This dedicated team of committed professionals works tirelessly to support rangers, veterinarians and researchers in protecting, saving, conserving and monitoring endangered species within the Kruger National Park and neighbouring protected areas. These pilots and their support staff are instrumental to many of the counter-poaching successes in the area.
• First runner-up: SANParks’ Marula South (IPZ) Rangers, South Africa.
• Second runner-up: Eastern Cape DEDEAT Green Scorpions, South Africa.

Best conservation supporter

• Winner: Lynne Taylor, The Tashinga Initiative. Taylor’s targeted initiatives that ensure rangers receive the necessary support to perform optimally, have transformed their well-being and operational capabilities in the Zambezi Valley. This enables them to function effectively and supports their extraordinary work in conservation and ongoing protection of threatened species in Zimbabwe.
• First runner-up : SANParks’ Environmental Crime Investigators, South Africa.
• Second runner-up: WWF South Africa, Wildlife Programme, Southern Africa.