By Kopano Dibakwane
SANParks board chairperson, Pam Yako, acknowledged the dedication of rangers during a World Rangers Day event held at Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park in the Eastern Cape. Similar events were reportedly held in all 21 national parks to honour and celebrate the devotion of men and women who put their lives at risk to protect South Africa’s heritage and legacy.
Yako said that a total of 148 rangers, around the world, lost their lives between June 2023 and May 2023 from various causes such as; animal attacks, death in service, homicide, occupational and vehicle accidents.
” These are beacons of environmental stewardship, inspiring the world with innovative conservation practices and they should be celebrated. In Africa alone, we have lost 65 rangers and today we want to pay a special tribute to those men and women of honour,” said Yako.
She highlighted the continued battle against poaching of wildlife, illegal harvesting of plants, fish, dumping of waste in the oceans, in many parts of South Africa results in ranger-corps duties being focused on anti-poaching activities while leaving many other operational requirements seldom attended.
” If it were not for the efforts of these rangers, the picture we are currently seeing in the Kruger National Park (KNP) would be much more tragic and desperate than it currently is. I would like to pay a special tribute to our departed rangers for dedicating their lives while protecting wild life.
” 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 sector would be poorer. We stand together with the world as we celebrate and salute these courageous and caring heroes that we call rangers,” said Yako.
