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Some of Nhongo Safaris Fleet of Open Safari Vehicles

The photo shows some of our fleet of Open Safari Vehicles used while on safari in the Kruger National and Hwange National Parks. These ve...

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Three Rhino Poachers Nabbed And Remanded In Custody – Two More Convicted

Three Mozambican nationals who were arrested by the anti-poaching task team when they were plotting to kill rhinos inside the Kruger National Park on Sunday were remanded in custody when they appeared before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court today.

The anti-poaching Task Team was on a special operation inside the park when they spotted a burning fire in the bushes. Police tactically approached the fire place and pounced on the three suspected rhino poachers. A .458 rifle with 3 live ammunition, a .375 rifle with 2 live rounds, an AK 47 loaded with 20 live rounds, 2 axes and a knife were found in the possession of the suspects.

The suspects, Gaspara Chabalala (34), Antoni Chabalala (33) and Ronald Baloyi (28) will be in the dock again on Thursday, facing charges of illegal hunting, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and trespassing.

Meanwhile two convicted rhino poachers; Enock Mutungi, a 38-year-old Mozambican national and Daniel Dumusani (48) were sentenced to six years by the Makhado Magistrate Court today after they were found guilty of rhino poaching which they committed in Masisi in March this year. The two were apprehended inside the Kruger National by the same task members. Upon their apprehension police found an unlicensed firearm and two rhino horns.

The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Simon Mpembe has lauded the conviction and sentencing and further asserted that the judgment will serve as a deterrent to other would be rhino poachers.

By:
 South African Police Service

Friday 26 July 2013

Poachers Arrested

‎KNP Rangers‬ successfully arrest four poachers.

The South African National Parks (SANParks) today (Thursday, 25 July 2013) confirmed the arrest of four poachers in the iconic Kruger National Park (KNP) by the SANParks Special Forces and Rangers. The arrests took place in two different sections of the park amid latest statistics released yesterday of 321 rhinos having been poached in the park this year alone.
On Wednesday, 24 July, SANParks Rangers based in the Houtboschrand section of the KNP , made contact with a group of three poachers, a shootout ensued and one poacher was wounded and arrested at the scene, unfortunately the other two managed to escape back into Mozambique. A .458 hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered.

On the same day in the Olifants Section, SANParks Rangers discovered an active poacher’s camp with empty food cans.

In the third incident early hours of today, a Special Operations team , supported by SANParks Rangers from Shangoni Section tracked down a group of suspected poachers and managed to arrest three who were in possession of two hunting rifles , an AK47 assault rifle with ammunition and an axe.

SANParks Special Operations Head, Major General Johan Jooste (RET) congratulated his members and reminded them that this is a battle we cannot afford to lose… “we are in the full moon period, there are huge numbers of incursions, spoor and many other poaching related activities that are keeping our members busy but we are confident that the gap is slowly closing in on the poachers.”

Jooste said that the cooperation with other anti-poaching units like the SAPS and the SANDF is improving daily and bearing the much needed results.


These latest arrests in the KNP bring the number of suspected poachers behind bars to a total of 67 since the beginning of the year.

Issued by: SANParks Corporate Communication, Tel: 012 426 5170

Media enquiries:

Ike Phaahla – Media Specialist, SANParks, Tel: (012) 426 5315 Cell: 083 673 6974 e-mail: isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org
Or
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli – General Manager: Media & Stakeholder Relations, SANParks, Tel: (012) 426 5203, cell: 073 373 4999, e-mail:
rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org

Thursday 25 July 2013

On Safari from the 22nd to the 24th July 2013

22 July 2013

Guests were picked up by Dean at Southern Sun Hotel Monte Casino and transferred to the Kruger National Park entering through Numbi gate. After the necessary check in we made our way to Pretoriuskop for lunch.

After a good lunch we then drove down and back on Napi road.

Animals seen were:

Kudu, impala, rhino and elephant.

After some good photos we made our way to the camp for the night for some good rest before the new day dawns.

23 July 2013

Today it was out early, we made our way down Napi road getting sightings of elephant, rhino and buffalo.

We then made our way to skukuza for a good break.

After our break it was back out to see what else we could find. We did the upper triangle around the Sabie low and high water bridges getting good sightings of bushbuck, rhino, buffalo and elephant.

We also got a radio call of a female lion on the S112, we made our way in that direction and found her, after enjoying a good sighting and taking some good photos we made our way up the S114 coming across a female leopard at Stenbuck plains. After spending some time with her and getting some great photos, we made our way back to skukuza for some lunch, before making our way back to camp so that guests could get on their night safari with the Park.

24 July 2013

The next morning, we were out early again to see what this new day in Africa has to offer, before we say goodbye and have to return to Johannesburg.

We got great sightings of rhino, waterbuck, impala, buffalo and elephant.

A great way to end this 3 Day Safari!

On Safari With The Challenge Group From 18 – 21 July 2013

18 July 2013

After picking up the group at Baptist House we made our way to the Kruger National Park entering through Numbi Gate. We  then made our way  to Skukuza for Lunch.

Animals seen were:

Buffalo, impala, kudu, rhino and elephant.

After a good lunch stop, we drove down to lower Sabie Camp. Getting more elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, impala, lion, crocodile and hippo.

19 July 2013

Today it was out early, with a drive down the road in the direction of Crocodile Bridge going onto the S28.

Animals seen were:

Rhino, elephant, impala, buffalo and lions with there cubs.

After some great photos we made our way back to lower Sabie Camp for breakfast.
After breakfast we made our way back down towards Crocodile Bridge on the tar getting more buffalo, elephants, lion, zebra, wildebeest and warthog.

After a break at Crocodile Bridge we made our way back to the H10 via the S28 getting more zebra, wildebeest and kudu.

We took a drive on the Molondozi loop getting more sightings of elephant and rhino.

After this we made our way back to camp for the evening.

20 July 2013

Today we had a good sighting of wild dog at sunset dam and then it was off up Elloff street to the nkhulu picnic spot and back to lower Sabie Camp.

On this drive we got buffalo, elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, impala, giraffe, crocodile and hippo.

21 July 2013

The Group leaves us today but before we exit back to Johannesburg there is one last drive.

We travelled from lower Sabie to skukuza for breakfast getting good sightings of elephant, buffalo, hyena, lion and black rhino.

After breakfast, we made our way to Numbi gate via transport dam, getting another leopard with a kill in the tree, two hundred meters down the dam access road.

A good sighting to send the group home with!!

All had a great time while on safari and will be back next year!!

Rhino Poaching Update

Rhino Issue Management Report published by the DEA - The release of the RIM report comes as the number of rhino poached in South Africa increased to 514. http://bit.ly/17CXoum

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Over 500 Rhino Killed In South Africa

At least 515 rhino have been killed in the country so far this year, the environmental affairs department said on Wednesday.

“I have been told that as of yesterday [Tuesday], a total of 515 rhino have been killed so far this year,” deputy director general Fundisile Mketeni said in Kempton Park at the release of a report on rhino poaching.

“The increase of rhino poaching is continuously being discussed at the highest levels of government.... Your frustrations are also government’s frustrations.” The department’s rhino poaching statistics showed that a total of 668 rhino were killed last year. At least 446 rhino were killed by June this year.

Mketeni said a safety and security strategy developed at a rhino summit in 2010 was being reviewed.

“There will be stakeholder participation in its review. So far, law enforcement authorities have been engaged in fighting poaching, especially in the Kruger National Park.”

Mketeni labelled Vietnam one of the “culprit countries” as far as rhino hunting was concerned. He said in a year there were 100 permit applications from Vietnam to hunt in the country.

The Vietnamese recently put a moratorium on hunting in South Africa after South African government officials visited the country to discuss the matter.

He said talks were also being held with the Southern African Development Community about protecting rhino.

By:
 Times Media Group

24 Rhino Horns Seized In Czech Republic

Prague - Czech authorities seized 24 white rhino horns and charged 16 suspected members of an international ring smuggling the prized material to Asia, the customs department said on Tuesday.

The horns, believed in parts of Asia to heal illnesses including cancer and sold as an aphrodisiac, were worth $5m, customs and police officials said.

Demand has risen especially in Vietnam in the past years, leading to a rise in poaching of rhinos and smuggling of horns from Africa.

Police and customs said the ring employed proxy hunters who used a practice under which hunters can get permission to legally shoot one rhino in South Africa and take the horn as a trophy, strictly for non-commercial purposes.

"They were paid by the gang to hunt rhino in South Africa [and] bring the rhino horns as hunters' trophies to the EU," customs officer Ales Hruby said.

The Czech authorities did not give the nationalities of the suspects.

The suspects face up to 8-years in prison if found guilty.


By: News24.com

What Happens When You Ignore The "Do Not Feed The Animals Sign"

Do not ignore the signs


Thanks to Elize Oberholzer

Friday 19 July 2013

Alzu Petroport

Alzu Petroport a stop we like to take all our guests to.. It has 6 rhino's that have had their horns removed and are watched 24/7, 50 Buffalo, Zebra, Ostrich, Emu, Springbuck and other antelope.
Rhino's, Ostrich, Eland
Rhino's

Baffalo & Rhinos



 

On Safari from 13 July 2013

With Mark

13 July 2013

Route: Napi - H3 - Napi - nkambeni camp

General sightings:

Giraffe, kudu, steenbok, warthog, impala, baboon, monkeys, waterbuck and slender mongoose.

Further sightings

Brilliant Male elephant sightings along  Napi. All busy eating as they walked along, A male serval cat walking slowly along the road just before klipspringer koppies. Moved of into the bush. A large herd (80) elephant 1Kms from Napi on the H3. Many young with this herd all playing on the road. Found 3 cheetah lying just before biyamiti bridge on the H3. A distant visual but out in the open. A large herd of buffalo on napi tar just before the gate.

14 July 2013

Route: Napi - Doispan - Albaseni - Nkambeni

General sightings:

Elephant, waterbuck, kudu, impala, steenbok, giraffe, (Banded, dwarf and slender mongoose), baboons, monkeys and Zebra.

3 male lions lying approximately 50m of the road 2.3km from the S114 on the gwatamiri.

We just missed a leopard due to increase of traffic on the roads heading out of the park as holidays come to an end.

Decided not to report on Rhino's anymore due to the sensitivity of the issue.

15 July 2013

Route: napi - tshokwane tar - doispan - albaseni - nkambeni camp

General sightings:

Kudu, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, warthog, steenbok, common duiker

Great elephant sightings throughout the day, with many herds crossing right over in front of us. Only buffalo bulls seen on our drives so no large herds yet.

1 large male lion lying on the sandbank of mutlamuvi. Good photo's taken as he got up and moved off into the bushes.

16 July 2013

Guests Leave the park today and guides are off for a day..

Next safari is the 18th July with the Australian Challenge group.

Rhino Poaching Update

#‎RhinoPoachingUpdate‬ (As at 09:00, Wednesday, 17 July 2013) The total number of rhino poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year has increased to 488 with 142 alleged poachers being arrested. http://bit.ly/12XFVJN

Thursday 18 July 2013

Poachers Denied Bail

Four men accused of rhino poaching were denied bail by the Musina Magistrate's Court on Monday, police said.

The four would appear again on August 7 pending further investigation, said Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

Shumani Phaswana, 47, Wilson Mavhungu, 38, Thilivhali Mmulaudzi, 37, and Michael Sithole, 37, were arrested on Friday night in the Maremani Nature Conservancy.

They were allegedly found in possession of an unlicensed .458 calibre rifle and five rounds of ammunition.

Police were searching for a fifth man, believed to be a Mozambican national, who evaded police on Friday. He made off with an unknown number of rhino horns.

"The fifth suspect is still on the run and his whereabouts are being traced," said Mulaudzi.

Phaswana and Mavhungu were facing another charge of poaching and were out on R1500 bail each. They were expected to appear in the Mutale Magistrate's Court on July 24 in connection with this case.

By:
 South African Press Association

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Rhino Poaching News

16/07: (Houtboschrand) Contact was made with a group of armed suspected rhino poachers on their way back to Mozambique. During the contact, 1 suspect was fatally wounded, the 2nd suspect was arrested and the third managed to escape back into Moz. Firearm, ammo and poaching related equipment were recovered. Evidence suggests no rhino was killed during their incursion into KNP.

Monday 15 July 2013

South African Government Concerned About Rhino Poaching

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa says if rhino poaching continues at its current rate, the South African rhino population will be close to extinction by 2026.

Molewa was speaking with CNN about the potential plans to auction off massive stockpiles of rhino horn.

The minister says government is considering the once off sale of some 16 400kg of its ivory stockpile in an attempt to alleviate the country's poaching problem.

Molewa says that government will not abandon its other tactics to combat poaching if the auction is implemented.

“It’s a matter of protecting our own heritage firstly. Secondly, it’s also a security issue. This is one of the things that actually undermine a security of a country. It shouldn’t happen. So for those two reasons we see this as a very serious matter.”

Over 300 rhino have been poached since January.

Rhino poaching is also fuelled by the huge demand in some Asian countries. They believe that rhino horn can cure anything.

There are currently international and local campaigns which are aimed at saving the rhino.

By:
 Eyewitness News

Three Rhino Poachers Sentenced To Five Years Each

Three men have been jailed for five years each for rhino poaching in Polokwane, Limpopo police said on Thursday.

Mozambican nationals Augustus Nkuna, Foster Nyoni, and Manyanga Shiringa were sentenced on Wednesday by the Makhado Regional Court, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

"The trio were also handed a 12-month suspended sentence."

They were arrested in May last year after police caught them poaching rhinos at the Nwandeni Resort.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening, five alleged rhino poachers were arrested in Gravelotte after police received a tip-off.

"The five were planning to invade a private game farm and poach rhinos," said Mulaudzi.

Police confiscated a hunting rifle, two butcher knives and two vehicles.

The men were expected to appear in the Phalaborwa Magistrate's Court on Friday. Mulaudzi said the arrest of the five brought the number of people arrested for rhino poaching to eight this week. On Sunday, three men were arrested while they were en route to allegedly poach rhinos in Hoedspruit.

By:
 South African Press Association

Friday 12 July 2013

On Safari With Dean From 1 July to 12 July 2013

1 July 2013

clients went straight to the camp as the safari started at the Palaborwa section of the Kruger National Park.

2 July 2013

Route: Palaborwa Gate - Letaba for a break - Back to Camp

Animals seen were:

Impala, Elephant, Hyena, Giraffe, Buffalo, Leopard, Hippo and waterbuck.

3 July 2013

Route: Palaborwa Gate - S131 - Mopani for a break - Letaba - Sable Dam - Palaborwa Gate

Animals seen were:

Lots of Impala, Elephant (one herd totaled 150 elephants), Hippo, Buffalo, Black Backed Jackal, various bird species, Roan Antelope, Rhino, a Leopard kill, Waterbuck, Giraffe, Hyena, Baboons, Wildebeest.

4 July 2013

Route: Palaborwa Gate - Letaba - Tshokwane

Animals seen were:

Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino, Impala, Ostrich, Black Backed Jackal, Hyena and Lions.

5 July 2013

Route: Albasini - Doispane - Skukuza for a break - Napi - back to Camp

Animals seen were:

Elephant, Rhino, Zebra, Giraffe, Impala, Waterbuck, Got a call about a Leopard kill but when we got there we saw just the kill and no leopard.

6 July 2013

Route: Pretoriuskop - Koppies - Circle road - Selati - Napi - Skukuza for a break - Napi - Camp

Animals seen were:

Buffalo, Baboons, Elephant, Rhino, 3 male lions.

7 July 2013 

Route: Shithave Dam - Boulders Loop - Albasini - Doispane - Skukuza

Animals seen were:

Impala, Waterbuck, Rhino, 6-7 different sightings of Elephant, Zebra, Wildebeest.

8 July 2013

Route: Napi - Skukuza - Napi - H3 - Camp

Animals seen were:

Zebra, Elephant - Buffalo - Waterbuck - Hippo - Impala

9 July 2013

Route: Shithave Dam - Boulders - pretoriuskop loop - Camp

Animals seen were:

Rhino, Waterbuck, Baboons, Impala, we got a leopard jump into a tree so we watched her for about 30min as it was just Dean and Mark at the sighting.

10 July 2013

Route: Napi - Transport Dam - Numbi Gate

Animals seen were:

Elephant, Buffalo, Impala, Widebeest, Waterbuck.

Clients were then picked up by Verity and new clients arrived.

We then went on a little drive with the new guests seeing Elephant, rhino, impala, Zebra,
Wildebeest.

11 July 2013

Route: Napi - Albasini - Doispane - Transport Dam - Pretoriuskop for a break - Shithave
Dam - Boulders loop - Napi - Camp

Animals seen were:

Zebra, Impala, Hippo, Elephant, Buffalo, Kudu, Waterbuck, Dwarf Mongoose, Wildebeest and a leopard that jumped out a tree and walked next to the Open Vehicle.

12 July 2013

Route: Bush walk - Napi - H3 - Quagga Pan - Transport Dam - Skukuza

Animals seen were:

Elephant, Hyena, Rhino, Buffalo, Kudu, Zebra, Impala and 2km past transport dam 2 male lions walking in the road.

Keep watching for more

Counter Poaching Hounds - Unite Against Poaching

Poachers will no longer be able to rely on tactics such as outrunning their pursuers or hiding from rangers to escape capture. Following the success of the first three tracker hounds introduced into Kruger National Park, the park has now increased the number of dogs and will steadily build the numbers further.

The tracker hounds are specialists at high speed tracking and can outrun any fleeing poacher, even across difficult tracking terrain which would halt the most experienced human trackers. The hounds hunt as a pack and are able to run off leash making them independant of humans who would hamper their progress. They are trained to ignore animals and focus on their human target.

The tracker hounds are part of a well organised counter poaching strategy and are utilised as a quick deployment unit. A specially adapted Volkswagen Amarok is used during deployment. They are supported by well trained field rangers and specialised counter poaching teams.

Unite Against Poaching, a combined effort between the SANParks Honorary Rangers and Unitrans Volkswagen, has donated the hounds and are sponsoring their training and provided them with predator proof kennels. Their specialised nutritional needs as high energy working dogs are well looked after by Hill's Pet Nutrition.

The public can support this effort and help us look after and increase the number of dogs by donating in support of this project:
http://bit.ly/IF43ru

For more information:
http://www.sanparksvolunteers.org/

Thursday 4 July 2013

Rhino Poaching Update

#RhinoPoachingUpdate: The total number of rhinos poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year has increased to 461. Since the start of 2013, a total of 288 rhinos have been poached in the Kruger National Park. A total of 51 rhinos have been poached in North West, 47 in Limpopo, 41 in KwaZulu-Natal, 31 in Mpumalanga, 2 in the Eastern Cape and 1 in Gauteng.
Of the 137 alleged poachers arrested, 60 have been caught in the Kruger National Park. Five people have been charged with being receivers.

South Africa cannot continue to be held hostage by the syndicates slaughtering our rhinos, said Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa.

South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines             0800 205 005       ,             08600 10111       or Crime-Line on 32211.

For media queries contact:

Albi Modise
Cell:             083 490 2871

      

Minister Edna Molewa Briefs The Media

Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Minister Edna Molewa briefs the media on cabinet approval of the Rhino Trade Proposal for consideration at CITES COP17 in 2016.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media,

South Africa is a Party and founding member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a trade convention that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

The aim of the convention aligns with, and reinforces the principle of sustainable utilisation, which is enshrined in the Constitution and the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act as an integral part of biodiversity conservation.
Due to sustainable utilisation and adaptive management practices, South Africa has developed and maintained a proud conservation record, and communities have contributed to the conservation of species while benefiting financially from the restoration and protection of species. Ironically, the very success of our national conservation effort which has resulted in over 73% of the worlds’ Rhino population being conserved in our country has, in turn, resulted in South Africa being targeted by international criminal Rhino poaching syndicates.

South Africa is committed to further enhance its role as a global conservation leader and strengthen its role in influencing decisions and decision making processes of CITES parties to ensure that this trade convention fulfills all its objectives.

The on-going illegal killing of rhino has highlighted the need to take action in terms of addressing demand for rhino horn. In March this year, we were part of the 2 000 delegates from 178 countries at the 16th Conference of Parties of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Thailand.

Prior to our departure to the CITES COP 16 we launched an international discussion on the future of South Africa’s rhino population, particularly the issue of legal trade in rhino horn, or not. During the COP, South Africa engaged various countries on the issue of rhino conservation, rhino security and rhino trade.

The establishment of a well-regulated international trade could assist in this regard, if implemented in conjunction with all the other interventions to curb rhino poaching.

To this end, Cabinet approved the development and submission of a proposal to the 17th conference of parties to CITES, scheduled to take place in 2016 in South Africa, to introduce regulated international trade in rhino horn. This decision is informed by recognition of the contribution of biodiversity to our country’s sustainable development imperatives. Furthermore during the 16th COP to CITES, discussions relating to a possible trade, as an integral part of South Africa’s long term conservation strategy for rhinos, were initiated.
We will have to work in partnership with stakeholders and experts to ensure a feasible model for trade is proposed at the next CoP in South Africa, with due consideration of all the views expressed by interested and affected stakeholders in rhino conservation. Our appeal is that this should not be viewed in isolation from all our endeavours to save our rhinos.

South Africa cannot continue to be held hostage by the syndicates slaughtering our rhinos. We do have the ability to make this scarce resource available without impacting on the species, through the implementation of a regulated trade system. In addition, this will assist us in further promoting the conservation of the species and growing the population in South Africa and other range States.


Our government recognizes the role of the private sector and the NGO community in the protection of this valuable heritage and commit to working together with all partners in maintaining our successful conservation history.

The total number of rhino poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year has increased to 461.

Tuesday 2 July 2013

Unsung Heroes In The Poaching War

By Christopher de Wet

The question that is beginning to be asked is, how much worse would the situation have been if not for the countless fund-raisers, anti-poaching initiatives and organisations that have mushroomed all over the globe in recent years in aid of rhino conservation?

A local follow-up to the first question, would be how much of the intended funds that actually are raised under the banner of anti-poaching actually make its way to the frontline and the people who need it most?

If you have to ask the senior operational manager of the SANParks Honorary Rangers Support Services, Mr John Turner, what he thinks, he would tell you in no uncertain terms that the real heroes in this regard are the personnel of Unitrans Volkswagen.

If you take into account that the honorary rangers have received over R3.7 million in only a year and a half since the inception of the Unite Against Poaching (UAP) initiative, you could understand Turners answer.

In fact, with the acquisition of R2.3 million’s worth of ranger equipment, R1.5 million for ranger training and R540 000 for Dr Cindy Harper’s RhODIS project, you could even agree with him on his answer.

The story of the single largest contribution in SANParks history started in March 2011 with discussions around a conference table at the Unitrans offices in Johannesburg.

The goal of the corporation was to make a real sustainable investment and Turners plan as to provide the support that SANParks needed in order to conduct a modern bush war against relentless rhino poachers and greedy oriental buyers.

One of the architects of the initiative, Mr Brent Wilkins, general manager of Srijdom Park VW, was under no illusion of the immense task they had set for themselves. “This is a war. And we can only control what we can control.

“For us, its a short-term investment in order to get a long-term solution,” Wilkins said.
The first contribution from UAP came as early as September 2011, less than a month after the official launch of the initiative, when it forked out nearly R300 000 for the payment of Harpers staff salaries.

It was the same woman who in 2012 discovered a ay to extract rhino DNA from severed rhino horn, which could be used to convict suspected poaches by matching horns to carcasses. In November of 2011, UAP made a payment of 1.2 million in order to fit the entire KNP ranger section with standard kits. Many more payments were made since then, aiding in clandestine ranger training, the training and acquisition of fox hounds to aid in tracking, and with the acquisition of advanced kits for rangers. The way in which it spends its funds is what is key, according to Wilkins, as all money spent is on equipment or training only and is not just banked into an account from which funds could be diverted elsewhere.

The funds raised also comes directly from the bottom line of Unitrans VW.

According to Wilkins, a sliding scale is used whenever a vehicle is purchased from the participating dealers and money from that sale goes towards the initiative. Wilkins added with the introduction of Gen Maj Jooste to the top ranks of the SANParks anti-poaching unit, the channelling of funds from UAP had also become more specific and needs orientated. Despite its contribution, the numbers of poaching incidents seem oblivious to the efforts that are placed and keep increasing – a tendency that Wilkins hopes will change in the next 18 months.

“UAP has become a worldwide brand and we have set up funds to attract foreign donations and we will expand.

“we hope to see a real reduction in poaching incidents and more arrests and convictions over the next year,” Wilkins said.

Although the numbers aren’t reflecting the work that is being done on the ground, he is adamant in his belief in an old saying that “all the world needs for evil to overcome, is for good men to do nothing”.

“This is a war where we are transforming conservationists into soldiers. UAP’s money eases this transition,” he concluded.


SANParks Times Newspaper June 2013