Six weeks of intensive training following pre-selection and selection has boosted the ranger corps in South Africa’s premier game reserve – the Kruger National Park (KNP) – by 33.
They, according to a SANParks statement, made the grade after finishing the basic field ranger course. A passing out parade at Skukuza, the unofficial capital of the KNP, saw the newcomers officially join the corps on 3 September.
They will boost ranger numbers and efforts to support law enforcement and conservation.
Ahead of the classroom and practical training, the then would-be field rangers underwent physical fitness screening along with evaluations and interviews as well as cognitive and aptitude tests. They also, the statement notes, had to portray “a dedicated attitude, as well as a commitment to teamwork to qualify for the job”.
Deployment was immediate after the Tuesday passing out parade. The statement has it further the newcomers will work in any of Kruger’s 22 designated ranger sections. KNP Ranger Services appoints section rangers for each section with regional rangers managing a specified number of sections their immediate superiors.
Regional rangers also work with the park’s Environmental Crime Investigations Unit, Protection Services, Special Operations Unit, K9 unit and Air Services. In turn these internal divisions and units work with the SA Police Service (SAPS) stock theft and endangered species unit based in Skukuza.
