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Conservation efforts in the Addo Elephant National Park received a boost on Friday when Anglo American Platinum donated a Bat Hawk light aircraft to the park.
Anglo's executive head of projects, Prakashim Moodliar, said in a statement that the aircraft donated to Kruger National Park has been assisting SANParks with rhino dehorning work, research, and aerial visible policing, among other functions.
"This work speaks directly to the healthy environment pillar of our Sustainable Mining Plan and our ambition to have a net positive biodiversity impact - an ambition we can only achieve in partnership with key stakeholders such as SANParks, he said.
SANParks Managing Executive of Parks, Property Mokoena said they were "immensely grateful to Anglo American Platinum" who also donated a Bat Hawk light aircraft to the Mapungubwe National Park.
She said they join a number of other international and local corporates and individuals who work with SANParks to conserve and protect our natural and cultural heritage and our threatened species.
"These Bat Hawk aircraft will go a long way in being a visual deterrent to would-be poachers," she said.
Mokoena said "These ultra-light aircraft will also assist us in carrying out aerial patrols as well as monitoring and effectively managing the environment, not just over our terrestrial footprint, but over the Addo Marine Protected Area as well.
"We wish to thank Anglo American Platinum for their faith in us yet again to put their donated equipment to good use in the protection of our country's rich and varied biodiversity."
Addo Elephant National Park spans over 293,000 hectares and is home to one of the densest populations of African elephants in the world. "It is the only park in the world that can lay claim to the Big 7 (Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Southern right whale, and the Great white shark in the Addo Marine Protected Area)."
