Pic Caption: Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy during the 2019 World Ranger Day celebration at the Kruger National Park. Images by Salome Tsoka
BY ZIBUSE NDLOVU
To mark World Ranger Day on 31 July 2020, the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy has paid tribute to game rangers who have dedicated their lives, even during Covid-19 to protecting South Africa’s wildlife and natural heritage.
“Our rangers have remained at the forefront of the battle against poaching, despite the national Lockdown, contributing to the decrease in poaching. In this time, rangers have had to face not only the threats posed by poachers, but they and their families have also had to deal with the danger of contracting Covid-19,” said the Minister.
According to the 2020 National Rhino Poaching Statistics released by the Department, poaching has decreased by almost 53% in the first six months of 2020, with 166 animals being killed for their horns across the country since the beginning of the year. During the first six months of 2019, 316 rhino had been poached in South Africa. “After a decade of implementing various strategies and campaigning against ever increasing rhino poaching by local poachers recruited and managed by crime syndicates, efforts are paying off, and we have been able to arrest the escalation of rhino losses,” said Minister Creecy.
Between the start of the Lockdown on 27 March 2020 until the end of June 2020, 46 rhino were poached across the country. Of these, 14 rhino were poached during April, 13 in May and 19 in June. In the Kruger National Park, 88 rhino were poached in the first six months of 2020.
As the lockdown restrictions have gradually been lifted so the rhino poaching incidents have slowly increased. “The dedication of essential staff, particularly our rangers, during this time is to be commended. Your hard work, and the support of your families, has not gone unnoticed,” said the Minister.
World Ranger Day, which is supported by the International Rangers Federation, is held annually to commemorate those rangers who have lost their lives in the line of duty and to celebrate the commitment of rangers who battle poaching in protected areas on a daily basis.
