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SANParks beefs up security at the entrance gates into the KNP

The South African National Parks (SANParks) announced in a statement today that new security measures at the iconic Kruger National Park are being implemented.

According to Wanda Mkutshulwa, Head of Communications at SANParks, the measures are meant to enhance current security arrangements when guests, visitors and contractors enter the iconic KNP. “We have taken a decision to deploy a crop of newly trained rangers to assist with policing and security at all our main entrance gates. These rangers will help with search and seizure duties where necessary, as well as the arrest of offenders.

She said this deployment is part of a wider security strategy being implemented in the fight against rhino poaching. “We are at war and every single tactic will assist in ensuring that total control of all entry and exit points are managed by those tasked with the upkeep of the area integrity. It is no secret that the KNP has borne the brunt of these activities in recent times. Therefore if we are serious about winning this war all commands must be marshaled from one point.”

According to Mkutshulwa the deployed rangers have been trained in customer etiquette and also in the handling of sniffer dogs. “Our tracker dogs have been instrumental in the many successful anti-poaching operations that we have decided to utilize sniffer dogs at our gates; we are in a fortunate situation where individuals and companies are assisting us with training and donations of these dogs. We are not pulling out any of our tracker dogs from their missions but have specially trained sniffer dogs ready for deployment.”

The deployment is with immediate effect and is part of rolling out the many security measures that are being implemented in the KNP.
The measures are meant to bring down the number of animals that are being lost to illegal hunting emanating mainly from the KNP’s eastern border with Mozambique.

……..ENDS

Released by SANParks Corporate Communications, Telephone: 012 426 5170

For Media Enquiries

Reynold Thakhuli, SANParks GM: Media Liaison, Tel: 012 426 5170 Mobile: 073 373 4999 e-mail: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org
Ike Phaahla, Media Specialist, Tel: 012 426 5315 Mobile: 083 673 6974 e-mail: isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org

Thanks Les, good news indeed!

Thank you, Lesego. Great step, SANParks.

Absolutely fantastic news indeed!
Well done Sanparks! Go you sniffer doggies!!!!!

Sanparks!!

Hi Lesego,
Wonderful news. A big step in the right direction.

I fully agree with RayK .

Good news.

Movement at night between gates and camps,villages should also be tightened.

Guards should also be rotated regularly so as not to be become familiar with staff or regular visitors.

Very good news indeed! Thank you Lesego!

Excellent

Fantastic

Excellent news SANparks

Well done SANparks....we'll look out for them on Monday!!!

Morning Lesego

Im truly happy Sanparks is doing this and I hope that they will be searching all delivery vehicles into the park aswell, and although this is purely just for the protection of rhino's Is their something that Sanparks can do about the service delivery vans and trucks that travel at fast speeds on the roads aswell I can't tell you how many times Ive witnessed fuel trucks, vans and other service delivery trucks driving at almost 100km/h on the roads especially between lower sabie and skukuza and then later I see dead animals in the road and can't help but wonder if it wasn't them that hit the poor animals??

thank you Sanparks, have to wonder why it has taken so long to implement a basic security measure that should have been there from the beginning of fight, and the coincidental timing with regards to stories from a few days ago. Also can't help wonder how many if any of last years stats could have been prevented if this measure was considered a priority earlier. but happy it has finally happened.