South African National Parks (SANParks) today celebrated and honoured its rangers at World Ranger Day celebrations across all its 21 national parks.
Speaking at the anchor event for the World Ranger Day celebration held at the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park, Eastern Cape, SANParks Board Chairperson, Pam Yako said, this is a day dedicated to our men and women who daily devote their lives and time to protect the inheritance and heritage for present and future generations. “These are beacons of environmental stewardship, inspiring the world with innovative conservation practices and they should be celebrated.”
According to Yako a total number of 148 Rangers lost their lives the world over in the period, June 2022 to May 2023 from various causes raging from animal attacks, death in service, homicide, occupational and vehicle accidents… “in Africa alone we have lost 65 Rangers and today we want to pay a special tribute to those men and women of honour.”
South Africa is battling the threat against its fauna and flora on so many fronts from poaching, illegal harvesting of plants, fish and dumping of waste in the oceans. “As a result, much of the Ranger Corps duties are being focused on anti-poaching activities leaving many other operational requirements such as area integrity management seldom attended.”
She said despite all these challenges, an opportunity to build a strong Ranger Corp characterized by men and women with high levels of integrity and commitment to the principles of safeguarding our natural heritage is created daily.
Poaching of wildlife continues unabated in many parts of South Africa… “however in the same breath it would be so easy for us to concentrate on the alarming figures, but it would be very unfair to the men and women who risk their lives fighting poaching every day. If it were not for the efforts of these Rangers, the picture we are currently seeing in the KNP would be much more tragic and desperate than it currently is.”
Yako said the greed undermines all the efforts to save the planet, to save what belongs to the children of the world, the African Continent… “and South Africa you love, we all love.”
Yako expressed her sadness and condemned the killing of Rangers. “I would like to pay a special tribute to our departed rangers for dedicating their lives while protecting our wildlife.”
In conclusion, Yako stated that “our country’s natural heritage is the foundation for the tourism economy and without the contribution of these brave men and women the conservation and tourism sectors would be poorer. We stand together with the world as we celebrate and salute these courageous and caring heroes that we call Rangers.” If public members would like to support ranger health and wellness, they can donate through the SANParks Honorary Rangers to Project Embrace, which aims to provide programmes and structures that support ranger well-being and resilience. More information is available here: https://www.sanparksvolunteers.org/project-embrace/
