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31 March 2025

SANParks Doubles Specialist Ranger Forces To Protect Table Mountain National Park

The South African National Parks (SANParks) graduated 24 elite ranger forces that will more than double the complement of Sea, Aerial, and Mountain (SEAM) operators.

Table Mountain National Park SEAM Team operators are responsible for the safety of both visitors as well as environmental protection, thus securing the Area Integrity of TMNP. They underwent a rigorous mental and physical process for selection and received para-military training to prepare them for special operations to more effectively address the broad suite of threats facing the Park.

At present, the team consists of special operators, a canine unit of multi-purpose canines specialising in apprehension, detection and man-tracking, aerial support, and vessel support. This enables the unit to deal more effectively with the multitude of criminal threats that erode our environmental and visitor protection mandate.

The SEAM team has affected the arrest of 116 persons since its inception in December 2021. The SEAM team has conducted 88 helicopter deployments, 1003 foot patrols, and 400 K9 deployments. The 24 graduates will add to the complement of 16 members, more than doubling our capacity.

The training curriculum prepared the SEAM candidates to integrate with the cross-functional nature of the unit, including specialised operations that utilise information-driven interventions to target specific threats across the land and seascape of the protected area.

The deployment of SEAM team rangers is intelligence-driven driven and they conduct various terrestrial and marine operations, which have led to the arrest of various suspects. They run special operations targeting robbery and theft suspects, poachers, and illegal harvesting of plant species.

This initiative was made possible through partnerships with external stakeholders such as the SANParks Honorary Rangers, the Table Mountain Fund, and the Foundation for a Sustainable Future.

SANParks endeavours to foster these relationships to ensure sustainable and prolonged support for continuous improvement of integrated efforts to protect our natural resources for present and future generations.