Brave men gear up for Climb for K9

Three daring men are getting ready to Climb for K9 – a 230 km expedition across the Drakensberg for the brave four-paws who help protect our endangered wildlife.

SANParks honorary ranger Grant Melville (Umhlanga), Ian Shooter (Pietermaritzburg) and his assistant Jeffery Mthabela will attempt the ‘Drakensberg Grand Traverse’ starting from Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State on May 25.

They will hike unassisted, with only one re-supply at the top of the Sani Pass before descending to Boesman’s Nek near Underberg, estimated around June 6.

Fellow honorary ranger, Lene Hansen from Salt Rock is rallying support for her colleagues.

“Besides raising awareness of nature conservation, all proceeds from Climb for K9 will be transferred to the special wish list for the SANParks K9 Unit called Project Watch Dog,” said Hansen who joined the SANParks Honorary Rangers in KZN in 2012.

The fundraising initiative is crucial as it costs about R1,5 million per annum to keep the K9 unit going.

“A trained dog costs R50 000 – R60 000 and an additional R25 000 – R30 000 is needed to train the handler to full accreditation by the South African Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority. About 100 K9 units are needed to better protect our wildlife from poachers.

“With funding from the Peace Park Foundation, the US Embassy in SA and the American Howard G. Buffett Foundation, SANParks has operated its own K9 training centre in the Kruger National Park (KNP) since 2015. Special Bloodhound-Dobermann cross dogs are bred in South Africa specifically for tracking purposes in our climate.

“SANParks also use Belgian Shepherds and Foxhounds, which are trained to track poachers, find carcasses in the field, detect firearms, ammunition and wildlife products in vehicles at the park entry gates.”

The dogs also need special kennels which are put up at ranger posts in the Intensive Protection Zone of the KNP, where 60% of its rhinos live.

“A leopard-proof kennel costs around R90 000. The equipping of one K9 unit with GPS collar, line and harness, a handler rucksack with a portable water bowl, a medical trauma kit to provide first aid in the bush, and booties to protect the dogs against thorns costs some R6 000.

“Specialized food and veterinary care costs about R2 500 per month without taking into account the salaries of the kennel staff.”

She said the SANParks K9 Units have proven to be a ‘game changer’ in the overall anti-poaching war, and were involved in 90% of the arrests of poachers in the KNP in 2016 – which doubled compared to the year before.

“A total of 1 054 rhino were poached in 2016, compared to 1 175 in 2015 – a 10% decline. In the KNP, which is most affected by poaching, 662 rhino carcasses were found in 2016 compared to 826 in 2015. This represents a reduction of 20%. However, the number of poaching attempts is increasing with 2 883 so-called “poaching related incidents” (poaching camps, contacts, crossings, sightings, tracks and shots fired) were registered in the KNP, up from 2 466 in 2015.”

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