South African National Parks (SANParks) said it will tighten up safety and security at Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) after it indicted the first of its kind Sea, Air and Mountain (SEAM) Special Operations Ranger team at a pass-out parade in Cape Town on Friday, December 3.
According to a statement issued by SANParks, delegates from SANParks, funders, Honorary Rangers, TMNP Park Forum members and representatives from US Fisheries and Wildlife Services, gathered at Newlands Forest to honour the SEAM Special Operations Rangers and the K9 unit at the pass out parade, as they embark on their improved mission to combat crime within TMNP.
“[The] team will consist of a re-established K9 unit with six fully trained dogs and a specialised operations centre that will support the area integrity management of TMNP.
“This group will cover multiple functions which include visitor safety, search and rescue for the lost person and illicit wildlife crime such as abalone poaching,” the statement said.
SANParks CEO, Dumisani Dlamini further mentioned that the Special Operations Rangers is the first of this type of concept envisaged by SANParks, and possibly the first team of its kind for protected areas in Africa.
“As a custodian of wildlife and its conservation, we warmly welcome this step as it will provide the much-needed boost to the current team of ranger corps and should be seen as a necessary measure to top-up on our anti-poaching and the fight against crime within the Table Mountain National Park.
“They are all volunteers drawn from the ranger corps and willingly participated in the pre-selection, selection and training which took place over the last three months,” Dlamini explained.
Also read: SANParks expects mass cancellations following the latest travel ban
According to Dlamini, the selection process entailed a tough mental and physical process for each candidate. The training curriculum prepared the SEAM candidates and K9 unit to be integrated into specialised operations with deployment capabilities in all weather conditions.
He said as part of this new development the 0perations centre will play a major role in all activities of the SEAM Team within the park in collaboration with the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement, the Table Mountain Aerial Cable Way, South African Police Services and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
“This will aid the efficient collaboration of resources, as well as providing a professional communication solution required to achieve zero loss of life from poaching activity, both animal and human as well as safety for our visitors,” Dlamini said.
Also read:
Screams fade into the abyss – Shell will be blasting the Wild Coast
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery