Page 48 - KGR 2020 Review Book

THE MEN ON THE FRONTLINES

Karingani rangers secure the territorial integrity of the reserve by patrolling,
gathering and reporting environmental data and by minimising incursions into
Karingani. They are the frontline to safeguarding wildlife populations. Karingani
combines cutting-edge technology along with boots on the ground to be
the most effective force possible. Karingani employs over 60 scouts coming
from nearby local communities along with some having a history of poaching
involvement that turned from poachers into protectors, which provides them
with a far safer and consistent way to earn a living and a viable economic
alternative to illegal harvesting while giving a better insight into the minds and
tactics of modern poachers. All of our scouts undergo an intensive selection
process followed by specialised training prior to being assigned to one of the
teams which make up the Karingani ranger force.
Within our counter poaching force, a small group of the most skilled and
dedicated members of our security forces form the Karingani Special
Operations Group (SOG). Two elite three-man teams are comprised of a Patrol
Scouts prepare for rapid deployment via helicopter Commander, K9 Handler and Scout/Tracker. These high-preforming men make
December 2020 up a specialised unit that have undergone advanced training to use high-tech
equipment and tactics, including K9 scent tracking dogs and rapid helicopter
deployments. Head of Special Operations, Frenque Manhique describes his
fellow rangers as family, “one of my favourite things about working here is the
teamwork and brotherhood between my fellow rangers. To me, being a ranger
is an especially important job as it is a ranger’s responsibility to protect not just
wildlife, but the natural environments around the world as well.”

The rangers at Karingani are the frontline to safeguarding our wildlife Special Operations Group members working in the Karingani Control Room
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