Honorary Rangers
Exhibitions and School Visits
Exhibitions and School Visits by Honorary Rangers have been rebranded as the Public Education and Awareness Project (PEAP) and is the newest of the National Projects that Honorary Rangers across all regions are involved in. It evolved out of several of the other national projects who had a need to convey their message to the general public, particularly the younger generations.
Latest News and Events
The PEAP Cape Roadshow
PEAP (Public Education and Awareness Project) was founded by 3 of the Gauteng based Honorary Rangers (2 from Johannesburg region and one from West Rand). Their committee has been joined by an HR from Pretoria region. Most of their exhibitions and school visits have been within Gauteng and there is more than enough scope to keep them busy...
READ MORE
Archives
School Visits
The main thrust of the project is thus to take displays about SANParks, wildlife and conservation to schools, allowing children, many for the first time, to learn about animals, to touch and feel horns, skulls, see elephant teeth, feel shark skin and so many other things. We want to educate children about the need for National Parks. We also touch on some of the uglier issues such as the treat of poaching and alien plants in the hope that they will develop and appreciation for the need to conserve South Africa’s natural heritage and instill a burning desire to visit one or more of our National Parks. A desire that we hope will be channeled through to their parents.
Exhibitions
Many of the Honorary Rangers regions have been doing displays often in the camps in the parks, and focusing on Counter Poaching issues. However with PEAP, as an extension from the school visits we also take the displays to shopping centres, shows and festivals, here we promote SANParks and the Honorary Rangers. Here, with a dual adult and child audience we also show educational videos and try and raise funds to combat poaching. We also teach passers by about where the various national parks are, what tourism infrastructure they will encounter, what tariffs they will need to pay etc, and answer any questions they might have. We also draw attention to other Honorary Rangers’ public events such as sunset serenades, game capture weekends, birding weekends, golfing days etc. For any questions or if you want to arrange displays at your school/centre please contact:
PEAP Secretary
Alison Esterhuysen
082 741 4248
History of Counter Poaching Displays by the Honorary Ranger Corps
In the first half of the nineteen nineties, a National Project formally called Counter Poaching, (now Ranger Support Services), was started with the target of assisting S.A.National Parks with the aim of minimizing poaching in all the National Parks.
One section of this National Project was to host displays to the public of which included photographs of dead poached animals, together with genuine snares, animal sculls showing bullet holes, and other items relevant to the after effects of poaching.
The purpose of these displays was to raise awareness of the manpower, equipment and resources needed to combat this threat and to elicit financial donations from the public by showing them with the “not so nice side” of poaching.
In order to optimize these displays, the Steering Committee decided in two thousand; to de centralize the operation by including other major regions and thus optimism the project both financially and geographically. These regions would include Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Polokwane (Pietersburg), and the Free State.
As a result, items in question were uniquely registered and computerized, and basic equipment supplied to each of the above major regions on a “permanent loan basis”, with each region being requested to comply with two specific short and long term goals:
- To provide regular displays to the public for financial donations and so minimizing poaching. (Short Term)
- To provide similar displays to schools and by so doing, install in the younger generations the need to protect National Parks for future generations. (Long Term).
As far as the Johannesburg/West Rand/East Rand is concerned:
The first display was held at Hyde Park Corner Johannesburg. Similar displays were subsequently held at Sandton City (twice), Cresta Shopping Centre (twice), Randridge Mall, The Glen and East Gate Shopping Centre, with displays during 2005 once again at both The Glen and Randridge Mall.
Donations of approximately Fifteen Thousand Rand have been received. There was also a positive report in “Southern Courier” local newspaper for the last display at The Glen.
Each time the contents of the displays have been extended and improved with the two other National Projects, Alien Invader Task Group (AITG), and Veterinary Wild Life Services also being actively involved.
In order to optimize this a committee has been set up with H.Rs from Johannesburg and West Rand The goal is to continue the “Short Term “ and also start the “Long Term” with displays to schools.
The first display to schools was given in December of 2004 and regular displays, at various schools, took place throughout 2005. It is the goal to talk to a school every month One of the successes of the schools is the handing out of SANParks brochures to each child. This on its own has a significant effect on children for the need of SANParks.
A “Permanent Display” has been set up at Delta Park in Johannesburg, which is visited by schools on a regular basis. The success of the above is, in no small way, thanks to the stalwart support of the Honorary Rangers of the Ranger Support Services.