New Plane Gets KNP’s Anti-poaching Efforts Off The Ground

Thanks to a light aircraft funded by Vox Telecom and other donors, crucial aerial surveillance is once again part of the anti-poaching efforts in the Kruger National Park. “The KNP covers an area of almost 19633 Square Kilometres that’s roughly the size of Israel,” notes Bryn Pyne-James, senior general manager for SANParks fund-raising. “Protecting an area that large against poachers with ground-based vehicles alone is impossible, but with air support we have a chance.”

The park’s Bantam aircraft has proved to be a very important anti-poaching tool. Rangers must be able to spot carcasses and pin down the culprits quickly to combat poaching effectively. Unfortunately, the plane was destroyed in an accident last year.

A chance encountered between Vox Telecom CEO Jacques du Toit and pyne-James, quickly led to Vox’s decision to make up the shortfall needed to purchase a locally produced Bathawk plane, and cover its operating costs.

“Conserving our natural environment is one of the core aims of our corporate social-investment programme, and this was one of the most rewarding investments we could make,” says Vox Telecom head of marketing, Clayton Timcke.

Pyne-James says the park is raising funds to buy at least four more Bathawks so that rangers can cover the area more effectively. “We need to put the most effective tools into our rangers toolbox, and the aircraft have proved to be one of the best.”