SANParks RECEIVES AIR SUPPORT FOR ANTI-POACHING OPERATIONS

[Lesley Nyawo]

South African National Parks (SANParks) is a proud recipient of a brand new Airbus AS-350B3e helicopter with night flying capability made available with funding from the US based Howard G Buffet Foundation (HGBF).

SANParks Board Chairperson, Mr Kuseni Dlamini, stated that SANParks had received an initial grant funding of R254.8 million in 2014 to support anti-poaching operations in the Kruger National Park. “This incorporated the establishment of ‘Air Mobility’ capacity’ and included the purchase of the first helicopter in September 2014.”

He said subsequent to the initial grant funding, the Howard G Buffet Foundation granted SANParks an additional R37.7 million to purchase a second Airbus AS350 B3e helicopter, with similar specifications of night flying capability, to further increase the capacity of SANParks’ *** anti-poaching flight operations in the KNP. “In addition to increasing our current flight crew capability of flying at night, the helicopter is expected to improve our response time in dealing with contacts and other incidents in the Park. We have just taken delivery of this second helicopter and we are commissioning it today (19 March 2015) to go into action in the fight against *** poaching.”
“In accordance with the much needed aerial support to the anti-poaching teams around the clock, this helicopter will further assist in quick tactical response particularly at night where we have been lacking due to limited resources, therefore it is only proper to thank HGBF for bringing this much needed resource in our fight to curb poaching.”

He said as an integral part of the current strategy to combat *** poaching in the Kruger National Park, SANParks is in a process of applying and evaluating various technologies which include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s). “This aims at investigating the effectiveness of various UAV technologies as instruments in *** protection efforts under a range of operational conditions”.

According to Mr Dlamini, the UAV project will run for a full year… “and by the end of the project we will have a lot of information about the use of available technology in anti-poaching operations and be able to make informed decision on what is best for our environment.”

The testing of UAV technology in Kruger National Park is implemented as one component of a suite of anti-poaching initiatives supported by the *** Protection Programme (RPP). The RPP is a collaborative effort between the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), South African National Parks (SANParks), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Ezemvelo), and Peace Parks Foundation (PPF). The roll-out of this multi-faceted programme is made possible thanks to generous funding from the Dutch and Swedish postcode lotteries.

Ends…

For media enquiries, please contact either:
Paul Daphne, SANParks Head of Communications, Tel: 012 426 5170; Cell: 082 806 5409 E-mail: paul@[email protected]

OR

Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli, General Manager: Media, PR & Stakeholder Relations, Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999 E-mail: [email protected]

[DinkyBird]

Wow, great news! Thanks Lesley!

And thank you Mr Buffett for your belief and support of those in Kruger fighting the *** war!!! Wow, to even give more to the cause

[Lesley Nyawo]

You are most welcome Dalene.
we are sincerely hoping for the best with such a contribution.

[DinkyBird]

Did you get a chance to go for a flip in it Lesley?

[ritad]

Great!

[Lesley Nyawo]

lol @ Dalene most def.

[Elsa]

Wonderful acquisition in the fight to save our Rhinos!

Thanks you to all concerned for such incredible donations.

[Philip1]

Thank you for the info Lesley Nyawo.

and....

Wonderful acquisition in the fight to save our Rhinos!
Thanks you to all concerned for such incredible donations.

Ditto Elsa.

[Hugh]

Good news indeed

[Lepardfan]

I just love good news.

I hope that they will be very successful with their attempts fighting this war.

[jaxidean]

This is just excellent news indeed! I hope this will be successful in fighting the *** Poaching.

[Elfwilln]

Hello all,

i have seen this video at youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUHxVvw2LLo where it says that some people who wirks as SANparks have helped the transportation of some Rhinos with a helicopter,

i would like to get in touch with Cathy Dreyer that apears at this video, to ask some issues about this transportation.

[email protected] if someone can reach her, please ask if she can get in touch, i searchd around a lot but i could not find a way to contact her or anyother veterynary *** specialist.

[hilda]

Thank you for the info Lesley Nyawo! Great news!:thumbs_up:

Thank you to all concerned for these stunning donations!

[barryels]

Dear Elfwilln,

Here is a link to the Veterinary Service of SANParks.