Three Countries Jointly Celebrate World Ranger Day

In an event arranged by the Greater Mapungubwe TFCA’s park management committee, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe this year jointly celebrated World Ranger Day on 31 July. Participants included representatives of the park management authorities, army, police, K-9 unit, Working on Fire, the honorary ranger and ranger corps. Also participating was the Mustown Theatre group, which raises awareness for conservation among communities.

The main objective of the day was to honour the men and women working in parks to protect our environment and to acknowledge the sacrifice that they have made by pledging their lives to ensure that future generations will get to marvel at the wonders that our planet has to offer.

The day started with a presentation on the duties of a ranger. This was followed by a ranger drill and a demonstration on how to arrest a poacher and protect evidence, a conservation drama by the theatre group and a K-9 demonstration. Peace Parks Foundation procured tracking devices for the TFCA, which were handed to the Botswana rangers by the park management committee, as another step in jointly gathering data on the TFCA.

The day ended with a friendly soccer match.