World Image Magazine Issue 31 April 2016 | Page 13

Level 1 - The Black Mamba Unarmed Unit: Routine procedures such as foot-patrols, observations, vehicle checks and road blocks allow this team to fulfill the visual policing component of this unit, making them the, “bobby’s on the beat”. The Black Mamba teams are comprised of well-trained women with excellent communication skills and a genuine passion for wildlife. Level 2 - Armed Unit: A team of armed guards that protect the borders of Balule and operate off-reserve as a counterinsurgency measure. They also lend support to private rhino owners close to the borders of the Greater Kruger National Park and patrol the “buffer-zone” between these fences. The Bushbabies Environmental Education Awareness Program The Lesser bushbaby (Galago moholi) symbolises and defines the external environmental education awareness program, where learners are regarded as babies learning about the bush or environment. The Bushbabies Program is interlinked into the curriculum of local schools which should build on the children’s interests and should explore the subject matter in a multi-disciplinary manner; therefore we should enhance a child’s skills and build on their present ideas about conservation through a program that provides for a multitude of opportunities for the child’s growth and development. In addition, we have the on-reserve team of well-trained and experienced armed rangers that are deployed in the high-risk areas. This team is split into smaller well-equipped foot patrols and ambush stations that move between strategically positioned picket stations. Level 3. - Senior Management: Responsible for deployment strategies and networking. To better manage communications and information that is passed between the teams via the Operations Room. The movements of all Units and Rangers are monitored in real-time. The success of this 3-tiered strategy has seen the following benefits: 1. Constant visual policing on all servitude roads and boundaries. 2. Low level of internal corruption. 3. High success rate with counter-Insurgency measures (offreserve). 4. Strong support from neighbouring rhino owners adjacent to the Greater Kruger. When you hear the words anti-poaching unit, what’s the first thing that comes into your mind? Poachers... Guns... Snares... War... Rhino Horn... Ivory? The Black Mambas is much more than just an anti-poaching unit. Whilst our main objective is the security of the reserve and the protection of wildlife, we also strive to create a strong bond and educate the communities that live on the boundaries of Balule and the Greater Kruger Park to the benefits of saving their natural heritage. It is our belief that the ‘war’ on poaching will not be won with guns and bullets, but through social upliftment and the education of local communities surrounding the reserves. Transfrontier Africa acts in its capacity as a host agent on behalf of the Extended Public Works Program that aims to address unemployment and assist with skills development in South Africa. SANParks administers and accommodates the salaries of all our rangers through this program. All Black Mamba recruits are from local, previously disadvantaged communities and go through a rigorous 6 week training programme prior to deployment with an existing unit to further their training through work experience. Website = www.worldimagemag.com The objectives of this program are to bring knowledge to life, raise awareness of their surrounding environment, give a better understanding of conservation, lead to sustainable use of resources and install environmental problem-solving skills and ultimately installing an ethical ethos in our future generations. Transfrontier Africa in conjunction with Balule Nature Reserve, has an active rhino research program which is designed to investigate the effectiveness of the “Rhino range expansion program” and all other aspects of rhino management and protection based on scientific investigation. Transfrontier Africa's responsibilities have extended to cover the entire 50'000 hectares of Balule and includes the daily monitoring of the rhino to design a real-time locality map of rhinos in the hot-spots and high-risk areas in order to aid in deploying the anti-poaching units effectively. The location of rhinos is deduced from the rhino’s movements which the Black Mambas monitor daily through the use of VHF & GPS transmitters. Page 13 email = [email protected]