The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) recently hosted its annual Field Rangers Day celebration on the 25th of August 2023 at Thomas Baines Nature Reserve, to celebrate and honour the province rangers for protecting the fauna and flora of this province.
This celebration was aligned with World Ranger Day celebrated annually on the 31st of July. The day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges facing environmental challenges the Eastern Cape and the world over face due to various factors that include environmental crimes. It is also a means to acknowledge and thank field rangers who put themselves at risk when protecting ECPTA’s reserves and wildlife.
The day was dedicated to reflecting and celebrating the heroic duties of the Agency’s men and women who bravely protect different biodiversity assets within ECPTA-managed provincial nature reserves that range from wildlife to indigenous fauna and flora.
ECPTA rangers were acknowledged with awards in various categories that span different clusters within the ECPTA conservation and reserve footprint.
ECPTA field ranger of the year, Thandiwe Gegula expressed her gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the importance of teamwork in conservation efforts. She highlighted the critical role women can play in this field and encouraged other young women to pursue careers in conservation.
“I am so happy and grateful. Celebrating Women’s Month, my birthday is in August and getting the recognition for my work still feels unbelievable. I believe that my determination and unwavering love for the wilderness made me stand out in an industry predominantly dominated by men. I encourage more women to consider furthering their studies in conservation,” said Gegula.
ECPTA Chairperson Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, said this year, World Ranger Day holds an even more poignant meaning, as it aligns with the theme of “30 by 30.”
“This theme underscores the urgent need for increased conservation efforts to safeguard ecosystems and protect the planet’s biodiversity. This goal can only be achieved through hard work and dedication of our rangers,” said Mzilikazi.
“Our recent recruits are directly from the 2022 field ranger academy, all 16 of them. This not only showcases the success of our agency but also elevates the importance of ECPTA’s established field ranger academy in developing a pool for ranger recruitment,” said Mzilikazi.
