Seven Year Old Reaches Goal Of R 100 000 To Save The Rhinos

SANParks Rhino Champion Alyssa Carter, aged seven, handed over a cheque of R100 000 to the SANParks Honorary Rangers. Last year Alyssa was the winner of the Corporate Contribution... to Conservation Award (Individual) at the SANParks Kudu awards. These awards were in recognition of her efforts to raise money to save South Africa’s rhinos.

The cheque was handed over to Outgoing National Executive Committee Chairperson, Janssen Davies and Chairperson of Conservation Services, John Turner who thanked her for her service to conservation in South Africa’s national parks.

Alyssa raised a substantial portion of the money from selling chocolates, each with a hand-drawn picture of a rhino created by Alyssa. The remaining funds were donated by the Chairperson of Lowveld region, Grant Coleman, and the Table Mountain region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers which donated R46, 250 to her fund.

Her idea came about after her school class learnt about endangered animals and her teacher explained how rhinos were being killed. Her emotional response was so strong that she immediately wanted to do something to help save the rhinos, her favourite animal.

With the help of her parents Alyssa started making and selling chocolates in May 2013. The money she collects goes to support the SANParks Honorary Rangers in their fight to save the rhino.

Unlike many fundraising initiatives the SANParks Honorary Rangers utilise 100% of all money raised for the purpose for which they were donated. No public money is used to run activities and every cent donated by the public for counter poaching or other projects identified is used to fund the actual projects or counter poaching needs in our national parks. We are a registered public benefit and non-profit organisation.

The SANParks Honorary Rangers are the South African National Parks preferred channel for counter poaching support in our National Parks. They work directly with the counter poaching teams in the parks to provide crucial training and equipment.

The battle to save the rhino can also be supported outside the reserves when the kingpins are brought to book. Those with information can make use of the Tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or 32211; contact Crime Line where they will remain anonymous or their nearest police station with information.

Issued by:
SANParks Honorary Rangers

Arrest Of Former SANParks Ranger And Police Officials Welcomed

The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, the Hawks and SANParks have welcomed the arrest of a former SANParks field ranger and two SAPS members by South African National Parks (SANParks).

The arrest on Tuesday of the former SANParks field Sergeant and two police constables based at the Skukuza police station in the Kr...uger National Park was the results of a joint intelligence-driven operation between the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) and officials of the Kruger National Park.

Park rangers and the Endangered Species team of the Hawks were on their routine duties when they came across a black rhinoceros carcass in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday morning.

The team pulled a marked Skukuza police van over after receiving information. On searching the van, a person suspected of being a poacher, who was armed with a .375 hunting rifle and rounds of ammunition, was found. When the constables were asked about the man and the rifle, they could not give a satisfactory explanation and were arrested.

During the operation the rifle, ammunition, a silencer and poaching equipment was seized.

“The SANParks and SAPS officials who performed the arrests are congratulated for their outstanding work. The arrest sends a strong message that officials alleged to be involved in poaching will be arrested and face the full might of the law,” said Minister Molewa.

The Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Simon Mapyane, applauded the team under the stewardship of Colonel Johan Brits for work well done.

“Colonel Brits is going on pension this Friday, 30 May 2014, after serving the police for 39 years and eight days. He is leaving a mark and has handed the mantle to the team,” said General Mapyane.

“The suspects were tasked with the responsibility to patrol the streets around the park and to confront suspicious vehicles. It is clear that these members were doing the opposite,” added General Mapyane.

Both members are now facing charges of corruption and the person suspected of being a poacher is facing charges of being in the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They will appear in the Skukuza Magistrates’ Court soon.

In another operation in the early hours of the 27 May 2014, rangers at Pretoriuskop made contact with a group of suspected poachers. During the incident, one of the suspects was fatally wounded and the remaining two managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Poaching equipment, a .458 hunting rifle and ammunition were recovered during the operation.

The Officer Commanding of the SANParks Rangers Corps, Major General (RET) Johan Jooste commended all the units that were involved in the arrests of the suspects. He added that the war was intensifying but the men and women in uniform were certainly up to the task.

“The incursions are now relentless and taking their toll on our resources, but we have men and women that are dedicated and fully committed to the cause, they are determined to win this war,” said Maj Gen (ret) Jooste.

These successes follow shortly after a very successful week of SANParks / SAPS operations both inside and outside the Kruger. Three foreign Chinese nationals were arrested in Gauteng on the 22nd May for possession and dealing in rhino horn, whilst six suspected poachers were arrested in the surrounding areas just outside the KNP and a further two arrested and two fatally wounded inside the KNP.

The Park has been under tremendous pressure from poachers, as it is home to over 80% of the global population of both white and black rhino that still roam in the wild. The animals are being illegally hunted for their horn, driven mainly by demand from South East Asia. Crime syndicates have been identified as the main culprits in recruiting those that kill the animals.

Since January 1, 2014, the Kruger National Park has lost 272 animals to poachers and 52 individuals have been arrested. A total of 419 rhino have been poached in South Africa so far this year.

Of the total number of rhino poached, 48 rhino have been killed in Limpopo, 41 in KwaZulu-Natal and 26 in North West. A total of 119 people have been arrested in connection with rhino poaching.

Maj Gen (ret) Jooste reminded South Africans that the battle will be won outside the reserves, when the kingpins are brought to book. He urged those with information to make use of the Tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or 32211; contact Crime Line where they will remain anonymous or their nearest police station with information. He also thanked his team for their commitment and dedication to the fight to save South Africa’s Natural heritage.

Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs

Leopard Close To A Hyena Den

South African National Parks congratulates Minister Edna Molewa

South African National Parks (SANParks), Board Chairman, Mr. Kuseni Dlamini has on behalf of SANParks Board of Directors, Executive Management and the entire staff expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed minister of environmental affairs, Honorable Edna Molewa. “As the SANParks family we see the re-appointment... of the Minister Molewa as a well-deserved moment of recognition for past achievements and future goals.”

He said Minister Molewa’s continuous leadership has provided hope for the promotion of the conservation agenda in the country as well as in the international sphere. “We further see this as a move that will continue to open doors for many in the continent and the diaspora and we wish to acknowledge her contribution in this mammoth task."

“It therefore gives me a great pleasure to send our sincere gratitude and congratulations to the minister. We will do our bit in rallying behind Minister Molewa to go beyond the gains that has already been made particularly in the fight against the onslaught on our country’s fauna and flora by criminal elements.”

It is through your hard work that we are able to count so many achievements in this important area. However we take note that our work is not yet completed," concludes Dlamini.

Issued by:
South African National Parks Corporate Communications

Elephants Crossing The Road In KNP

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SANParks Ranger Issued With Warning

A SANParks ranger has been issued with a final written warning after he fired shots in the air because an elephant was blocking the road.

 

Video footage of the incident was released to News24, after the incident was first reported in Beeld. 

 

According to Reynold Thakhuli, SANParks GM: Media Liaison & Stakeholder Relations, the ranger stated in a report filed following the incident that the animal had blocked the road and there were about 20 vehicles coming from both sides.

 

“He stepped out and consulted with some of the tourists who had no problem with him chasing the elephant off the road,” said Thakhuli. The ranger fired three shots, which managed to get the animal out of the road.

 

However, Thakhuli said, while SANParks’ policy allowed for the firing of shots, particularly if lives were in danger, the ranger had been issued with a warning. 

 

“The ranger in question has been issued with a final written warning as it is perceived his actions were unnecessary,” Thakhuli told Tourism Update.

On Safari With Dean From 19 May 2014

First off we would like to welcome Michelle and Justin Leegsma who are on their sixth safari with us. It is always a pleasure seeing this couple every year.

 

19 May 2014

We picked up Michelle and Justin at the Balalika hotel in Sandton and made our way out of Johannesburg to Nelspruit were we changed into one of the open safari vehicles and then made our way onto the Phabeni gate of the Kruger National Park. After gate check in procedures we made our way down getting good sightings of buffalo, impala, rhino, zebra and wildebeest. Upon arriving at skukuza, everybody checked in and enjoyed some good drinks on the deck, before having dinner.

 

20 May 2014

This morning we left camp at 06h00 and made our way down the Napi road and then onto the H3 to quagga pan looking for some of the cat species, with it been a bit quite we proceeded for about another five kilometres before turning back and making our way in the direction of the Skukuza golf club for breakfast. After enjoying a good breakfast we made our way up the Tshokwane tar to the picnic spot getting good sightings of elephant, numerous vultures as well as kudu, impala, zebra and wildebeest. After leaving the Tshokwane picnic spot, we got to hear of lions lying near the road north of maritime dam, we made our way in this direction and were not disappointed as we arrived in the final stages of three lions trying to take down a zebra, unfortunately they did not get it right and the zebra and lions made off in different directions. We got to hear of more lions further up the road, lying in the river line, and so we decided to go and find them. After a short ten minute drive, we arrived at the sighting with one male and four females lying sleeping. After a good sighting spent in the river line, we made our way back to the tar road when a message came in that cheetah had been spotted where we had passed earlier, we made our way back in that direction and found them walking from the river line towards the road. The two mature females crossed the road in front of the vehicle with one of the cubs coming across as well and another cub crossing further down the road. After this great sighting, we made our way onto Satara getting more impala, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and baboon. A great meal was enjoyed at the mug and bean, before retiring to bed.

 

21 May 2014

Today it was out early again and we made our way down the notorious S100, this proved to be a quite morning with sightings of impala, kudu, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra and black backed jackal. We turned onto the H6 and were contacted by the Singita Lebombo lodge rangers, who informed us of a giraffe kill on the main Tshokwane - Satara road, we made our way in the direction and a while later stopped next to three lionesses eating a huge male giraffe. We enjoyed the sighting immensely, before turning around and making our way to camp for a late breakfast. After an enjoyable breakfast, we took a drive in the direction of Olifants camp, but with all the patch burning taking place this was abandoned on the opposite side of the Olifants river, and we returned back to camp for an early afternoon. Animals seen were impala, numerous vultures, elephant, wildebeest, baboon, hyena and black backed jackal.

 

22 May 2014

This morning it was out again at six o clock, in order to make our way back down south in order to meet more guests coming in on safari. We made our way back down to the Giraffe kill and were not disappointed again as we got to have a great sighting of three young females eating on the giraffe. As we moved away from the sighting, we encountered more lions lying about fifty meters from the carcass, after watching them for a while, we moved on and then about a hundred meters further down the road, we found more lions, this time two young males that had eaten themselves so full that they could not move.

 

After enjoying the sighting, we made our way further southwards encountering good sightings of buffalo, elephant, impala, zebra and kudu. We made our way down to Skukuza for a break, before travelling onto Numbi Gate to meet some new guests from Canada that were arriving on safari.

After the guests arrival, we made our way to Nkambeni Safari Lodge to check in, and enjoy lunch before departing on an afternoon game drive. The afternoon game drive took us up the Napi Road to Shithave Dam and then down the Voortrekker Road and then up to Manungu and Pretoriuskop kopies, ending at Mentsel Dam. Animals seen in the afternoon were elephant, rhino, impala,kudu and wildebeest. We returned to Nkambeni Safari Camp for a well-deserved dinner, before retiring to bed for a good rest.

 

 

23 May 2014

 

After enjoying an early breakfast we left camp and made our way down the Napi Road, getting good sightings of impala and kudu. We turned onto the Boulders loop and got eight wild dogs making their way up the loop to Napi Road. After turning around, we followed them for a while until they moved off the road and into the bush. We continued down the boulder loop which turned out to be quite, and then returned to Napi Road. The drive through to Skukuza was relatively quiet with a few sightings of impala, elephant, wildebeest and kudu. After a good break, it was off to Lower Sabie getting good sightings of hippo in the Sabie River, giraffe, impala, warthog, kudu and buffalo. Upon reaching Sunset Dam, we came upon a dead hippo floating in the dam with up to twelve crocodiles eating on it at times. This was a really enjoyed sighting with us spending almost half an hour there watching this unfold in front of us. We made our way to the camp of Lower Sabie for lunch and then it was back on the road in the direction of Skukuza camp and then onto Nkambeni Safari Lodge arriving back at about four thirty. Animals seen on the return journey were hippo, elephant, buffalo, rhino, impala, kudu, wildebeest, zebra, warthog and giraffe.

 

 

24 May 2014

 

Today was another early morning with Justin and Michelle being on there last drive before leaving us and returning to Toronto Canada, we made a turn at shithave dam, boulders loop and also went down a few kilometres on the Voortrekker road. The morning turned out to be quite, with just sighting of general game, before returning them to the Numbi Gate for their return transfer with Verity to Johannesburg International Airport. After Justin and Michelle had left for Johannesburg, we carried on with a game drive around circle road, getting elephant, rhino, impala and kudu. We made our way back to camp for lunch, after a good break, we left on an afternoon game drive getting good sightings of general game as well as a nice sighting of an elephant bull in Musth that gave us a bit of an eye while crossing the road.

 

 

25 May 2014

 

Today saw us packing the vehicle and enjoying an early breakfast before departing on Duncan and Vincent’s last game drive. We made our way down Napi Road, before turning onto the H3 down to Quagga Pan. Again it was a quite morning with only a very quick sighting of two male lions close to Shithave Dam. After reaching Quagga Pan, we turned around and made our way to the gate of the Kruger National Park for the return journey to Johannesburg. Upon returning to Johannesburg, Duncan and Vincent were dropped off at Sunrock Guesthouse. Feedback from the clients were that they enjoyed there safari, and would be returning with the girlfriends and family in the future.

 

 

 

More coming soon!!