Killing of game ranger ‘an act of aggression’
They face risks, operate in an extreme environment
THE murder of a Kruger National Park ranger at the hands of alleged rhino poachers has been described as “an act of aggression by unscrupulous individuals and gangs” by Environmental Affairs Minister Dr Edna Molewa.
Ahead of World Ranger Day to be marked at the end of this month, Molewa paid tribute to the ranger who was seriously wounded during a shootout with suspected rhino poachers on Thursday and later died.
Molewa said the ranger, whose name is being withheld until the family have met, was from the Bushbuckridge area of Mpumalanga and was stationed at Crocodile Bridge.
He was wounded during a shootout with the alleged poaching group and died on the way to hospital.
The rangers had been tracking the alleged poachers, supported by the K9 unit. The shootout took place when the rangers pursued the alleged poachers. Police have launched an investigation into the shooting.
“My condolences go out to our departed ranger’s colleagues, his family and friends. His death at the hands of alleged rhino poachers is an indication of the severity of the threat our rangers are faced with on a daily basis,” Molewa said.
“As we approach the commemoration of World Ranger Day on July 31, I would like to pay a special tribute to our departed ranger for dedicating his life to the protection of the rhino and all other species in the Kruger National Park,” she added.
It is only through the efforts of brave men and women on the frontline that many species including the elephant, rhino and lion are conserved in the wild, she said.
World Ranger Day commemorates rangers all over the world who have died in the course of their duties, and who risk their lives daily as they work at the forefront of conservation.
In South Africa, game rangers stand up to poachers almost daily as they battle to end the decimation of wildlife species, ranging from the poaching of rhino and abalone to the illegal removal of plants such as cycads and proteas.
Last year, the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa (GRAA) said at least 55 rangers from Africa had been killed in the space of a year. This total rises to over 105 dead rangers across the globe, according to the International Ranger Federation during the same period.
The GRAA said rangers across the world are subject to an increasing risk of confronting life-threatening encounters.
They operate in extreme environments, and in their efforts to protect our natural heritage, face the risks associated with dangerous wild animals, sickness, community backlash, and the increasing threat of armed poachers and militia groups.
Protected areas in Africa with species such as rhino and elephant can be hostile environments where armed contacts with poachers are becoming too frequent.