Aviation and Parks

[Helol]

Didn't really know where to put this thread...

Aviation and Parks (Kruger National Park) (https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/stories/2024-01-parks-and-aviation)

"David Simelane is the chief pilot of SANParks, the South African National Parks service. With a fleet of three (soon to be four) Airbus H125 helicopters and a team of 11 people (including four pilots), they help safeguard the biodiversity and wildlife in Kruger National Park, as well as protecting the animals from poachers – preserving the park for both South African citizens and international visitors".

I have seen these Sanparks pilots in action, when I happened to be in the right place (I self drive, solo) as they were part of a research group (probably tracking for TB in buffalo), making sure herds of buffalo were kept well away from buffalo that had been tagged and were just coming out of their tranquilised state. Fascinating to watch.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x400/small_q3a1037_e8803fe9a38f76e604c864bff8b4cf9bfc3b9198.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x400/small_q3a1003_f65a70f951ea3cfa6eebce89cf9e88ac7747ec1b.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x400/small_q3a1020_319b7c9982e8b5752ae61ad1e378f9130101d467.jpg

[Good Vibs]

During the early 1970’s I worked for Autair SA, which later became Court Helicopters.
We had many interesting contracts including one for Kruger National Park.
Our helicopter was a Bell 47G4A ZS-HCS.
Of course single pilot with a Park Ranger.
We did anything they wanted us to do, mostly game counting, catching & culling.
We lived either in the field or in the tourist camps near our work.
The most interesting & fun was Zebra catching.
All those caught were sold on to various zoos around the world.
On one of our Zebra catching days, 4 June 1971, near Satara we herded and caught 163 of them
A record for the time. Normal was around 40-50 or so.
A great many professionals to work with. And many pleasant memories.
Thank You Kruger Park and all the Rangers I got to know.

[Helol]

During the early 1970’s I worked for Autair SA, which later became Court Helicopters.
We had many interesting contracts including one for Kruger National Park.
Our helicopter was a Bell 47G4A ZS-HCS.
Of course single pilot with a Park Ranger.
Thank You Kruger Park and all the Rangers I got to know.

The photos above are just north of Satara too, excellent wide open spaces in the central KNP. The Kruger pilots are certainly kept busy these days with all the poaching going on.

An older article from 2019 mentions the Bell 47 in action in KNP. (https://www.key.aero/article/rotors-over-kruger)