Dog handler - Vusumzi Nxamleko, Section Ranger – Anban Padayachee, Quemic Director – Gerrit Lamprecht, Ballistic Body Armour International Sales Manager – Henry Ainslie, Quemic Regional Ranger – Nikki Haynes, Park Manager – Mzwandile Mjadu and Environmental Monitor - Raghoo Saterdag, with Addo’s two dogs, Bullet and Banshee.

Home » Bullet Proof Vests for Addo Elephant National Park’s Ranger Dogs

Bullet Proof Vests for Addo Elephant National Park’s Ranger Dogs

The two canine members of Addo Elephant National Park’s (AENP) ranger corps are now equally protected from life-threatening situations, like their human counterparts, thanks to the donation of bullet proof vests. An integrated risk solutions company, Quemic, donated the vests as well as two trauma/first aid kits specifically for the dogs… plus dog food for […]

By SAPeople
04-05-17 08:23
in Fab South African Stuff
Dog handler - Vusumzi Nxamleko, Section Ranger – Anban Padayachee, Quemic Director – Gerrit Lamprecht, Ballistic Body Armour International Sales Manager – Henry Ainslie, Quemic Regional Ranger – Nikki Haynes, Park Manager – Mzwandile Mjadu and Environmental Monitor - Raghoo Saterdag, with Addo’s two dogs, Bullet and Banshee.

The two canine members of Addo Elephant National Park’s (AENP) ranger corps are now equally protected from life-threatening situations, like their human counterparts, thanks to the donation of bullet proof vests.

Dog handler – Vusumzi Nxamleko, Section Ranger – Anban Padayachee, Quemic Director – Gerrit Lamprecht, Ballistic Body Armour International Sales Manager – Henry Ainslie, Quemic Regional Ranger – Nikki Haynes, Park Manager – Mzwandile Mjadu and Environmental Monitor – Raghoo Saterdag, with Addo’s two dogs, Bullet and Banshee.

An integrated risk solutions company, Quemic, donated the vests as well as two trauma/first aid kits specifically for the dogs… plus dog food for an entire year.

Quemic’s Regional Ranger in the Western Cape, Nikki Haynes, was born in Addo when his father, Mike Haynes, was the Hospitality Services Manager in the Park.

Mike heard about Addo’s need for the items at a demonstration with the dogs about two months ago and thought it was an ideal opportunity for Nikki to get involved, as the company he works for, Quemic, already provides firearm training to SANParks’ Environmental Monitors. The company is also involved in anti-rhino poaching operations with private landowners and other nature conservation agencies.

Addo’s two canine rangers, Banshee and Bandit, are about five years old and provide sniffing and tracking support to the rangers.

Bandit, provided to AENP by the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and Banshee will now be kitted out in their bullet proof vests while on duty, protected from gunshot wounds and knife attacks.

Their handlers will be given training on how to use the dogs’ trauma/first aid kits, which are advanced enough to sustain them until they reach a veterinarian.

Quemic’s Director, Gerrit Lamprecht and Nikki were on hand to personally hand the safety equipment and food over to the dogs and their handlers in the Park. The vests, trauma/first aid kits and food is valued at over R130,000.

“If one is personally involved in nature conservation, as we are through our business, you know the landscape and try to help wherever you can. All of us in the nature fraternity need to look out for one another, irrespective of the size of our organisations. And for me, personally, this was just the perfect fit, given my history with and in Addo,” said Nikki.

AENP Conservation Manager, John Adendorff, says “We cannot tell you how grateful we are for your handover today. We want to give our dogs everything we can to ensure their safety, as we do with our rangers. They are integral to our operations and today’s sponsorship ensures that they have the best protection when they’re in the field.”