On 9 December 2013 the passing out parade for Limpopo National Park\u2019s special anti-poaching unit of 30 expressly trained field rangers was held at the park\u2019s Aguia Pesqueira (Fish Eagle) camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 12-week training was undertaken at the park\u2019s new field ranger and training base in Mapai and was supported by the Southern African Wildlife College, which has extensive field ranger training experience across southern Africa. The training programme was adopted by the Game Rangers Training Coordination Group as the standard adopted across Africa, thereby ensuring that the park\u2019s field rangers are at the forefront of the best regional anti-poaching techniques. The training was also supported by selected senior park field rangers and the Mozambican police who were commissioned to conduct the rifle skills training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following an application and interview process, 110 candidates were selected for the one-week field ranger pre-selection phase. Rigorous drills reduced this to a group of the best 40 candidates. These candidates then undertook a four-week basic training course, following which 30 field rangers were selected for a five-week tactical operations course, with the best six candidates being selected for the final phase of a two-week patrol leaders course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n