On the occasion of World Environment Day, Wilderness Foundation Africa (WFA) today handed over a cheque from the Oak Foundation to Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) for the purchase of a new patrol boat for its Marine Protected Area (MPA).
World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. South African National Parks (SANParks) Board Chairperson, Ms Pam Yako, the rest of the SANParks Board and Executive Management were on hand to accept the gesture on the Park’s behalf from WFA CEO, Dr Andrew Muir.
The patrol boat, once launched, will aid Rangers’ work in conserving and protecting the 114,000-hectare marine component of AENP, which protects a wide range of ecosystems, including sandy beaches, rocky shores, reefs, an estuary and islands. It also protects important feeding areas for the 3,000 pairs of endangered African penguins breeding in Algoa Bay and the 90,000 pairs of endangered Cape gannets breeding at Bird Island.
A small yet dedicated team of Marine Rangers are tasked with the MPA’s safety, security and conservation. They provide an ever-vigilant presence in the area, as team members alternate between being based on Bird Island and on vessels in and around the MPA. Since their establishment, they have made a number of arrests, confiscated numerous vessels and fishing equipment and issued various fines for marine-related crimes.
Wilderness Foundation expressed its appreciation of the project as an encouraging collaborative relationship it has entered into with SANParks. More so since this specific project also emphasizes the support of young people from previously disadvantaged communities to become dedicated rangers working to safeguard vital ecosystems for future generations.
SANParks and WFA have a long-standing relationship in the interest of conservation, particularly in AENP. Both organisations share a vision to enhance biodiversity conservation efforts and have worked closely over the years on various conservation, responsible tourism and socio-economic development projects in and around the Park.
In 2022, the Oak Foundation donated two new engines that were purchased and fitted to one of the Park’s current patrol boats, the Mkhuseli. With their latest donation of R1.3 million, a brand new vessel will be purchased and when completed, the vessels will be deployed to Addo’s MPA.
