Kruger Appoints New Top Ranger as Poaching Figures Soar

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – As Kruger National Park deals with its worst elephant poaching in a decade, it announced on Tuesday that it has appointed a new top ranger to lead its anti-poaching efforts.

Xolani Nicholus Funda, a former ranger who has been lecturing in nature conservation, took over the park’s anti-poaching operations from the beginning of this month, replacing former major general Johan Jooste who has moved to SA National Parks head office and “got a promotion on a strategic level position”.

The appointment comes barely two weeks after the park disclosed that 19 elephant had been poached in the Kruger this year, up from two last year, which was the first poaching there in a decade.

According to Environment Minister Edna Molewa, 749 rhinos had been poached in South Africa this year by 27 August, 544 of them in Kruger.

On the weekend, President Jacob Zuma visited the park to throw his support behind anti-poaching efforts.

“As someone who worked as a ranger in his early career and has continued to impact his conservation awareness throughout, we have faith in Mr Funda’s abilities to face and address the on-going challenges in conservation”, said Kruger managing executive Glenn Phillips.

Until recently, Xolani Nicholus Funda was a lecturer at the University of Tshwane in the department of nature conservation, where he worked for seven years. Apart from his conservation experience, he holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of Free State.

Funda said he had nothing but respect for his predecessor. “He is my boss, and we will continue to work closely as a team, bringing in the different skills and experience when it comes to issues pertaining to wildlife crime.”