In a generous act of support towards wildlife conservation, the Magalies Region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers (SHR) made a significant donation to the anti-poaching K9 Unit based at Kingfisherspruit ranger section in the Kruger National Park. This contribution is poised to bolster efforts to safeguard the park’s magnificent wildlife from the devastating effects of poaching.
Scent is an eight-year-old bloodhound-mix specially trained to work as a SANParks anti-poaching K9. Together with her trusted handler, they have been responsible for the successful arrest of numerous potential poachers within South Africa’s National Parks.
Unfortunately, Scent’s critical work came to a sudden halt last year, when she hurt her knee. She had ruptured her cruciate ligament and needed to undergo surgery and receive intensive treatment thereafter in order to have the best chance of recovery.
Making Contact – A K9 conservation Story
“The ‘pawsome’ series was filmed in Hluhluwe iMfolozi, Kruger National Park and Cape Town and has been created by Hills Pet Nutrition, with a goal to help keep paws and boots on the ground in protecting our wildlife in this country.
SANParks – Table Mountain National Park introduced a first of its kind Sea, Air and Mountain (SEAM) Special Operations Ranger Team to the media, funders, Park Forum, representatives from US Fisheries and Wildlife Services, and of course SANParks Honorary Rangers at a pass-out parade.
At its core is the re-established K9 Unit boasting six new fully-trained dogs and a state-of-the-art spec ops centre. “This group will cover multiple functions which include visitor safety, search and rescue and illicit wildlife crime such as abalone poaching,” explained Table Mountain National Park Manager Frans van Rooyen
