Game field rangers from the Eastern Cape Parks Board recently gathered for a Field Rangers Day at Thomas Baines Nature Reserve.
Game field rangers from the Eastern Cape Parks Board recently gathered for a Field Rangers Day at Thomas Baines Nature Reserve.
The activities were organised around encounters rangers undergo every day with the only difference being that now they could competing against each other. The Eastern Cape Parks Board is divided into three regions, the Eastern, Western and Central Eastern Cape and the competition was between the three regions.
Acting Director of Eastern Cape Parks Wayne Erlank said, "This is great for building the rangers’ morale and confidence. The rangers also got together and built partnerships as well as shared experiences." Nokulunga Maswana, the CEO of Eastern Cape Parks added that "These are part of our routine work. It is not to compete per se but to encourage the rangers and give them a platform to network with each other."
This was the first Field Rangers Day but it is being planned as an annual celebration to coincide with International Rangers Day on 31 July. The day started with a short marathon followed by stripping and assembling shotguns, then a tug-of-war where the rangers showed off their strength in the field. In the final outdoor event of the day, drill squads from the different regions showed their skills. These started with singing and the sergeants shouting commands to their troops and then the troops being inspected for neatness of uniform and discipline.
Thembelani Bungane from Thomas Baines Nature Reserve said, "I am very happy about the day. We have learnt to work in unity and I love the way the rangers here are wearing their uniform." After the outdoor events, the rangers gathered for the awards to compete for the floating trophy. "The first award goes to all of you for the commitment, dedication and the good work you are doing," Maswana announced. Thomas Baines reserve manager, Sizwe Mkhulise said, "Rangers are the front line warriors in protecting game and visitors and they are the engineers in making every visitor’s stay a memorable one." Siphikhaya Mpolweni from Double Drift nature reserve added that, "A ranger stands between a bullet and an animal protecting the animal from extinction and he/she is also a pillar of the reserve."
