Tourist Drones in Parks

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Richprins
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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

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KNP: Day visitor detained after flying drone in Park

2 days ago
Billy Sibuyi

Drones are not allowed in KNP or other parks.

A day visitor in the Kruger National Park was detained by the Protection Services in a joint operation with the SAPS after flying a drone over baboons in the Letaba Rest Camp Region at the Nhlanganini Dam.

According to the Media Specialist of the SANParks, Ike Phaahla, the SANParks officials were informed that a man had been flying a drone in the Park. A blue Audi entered the park through Phalaborwa Gate on Saturday, February 3 and the drone was not detected by the Protection Services.


Karien Keet, the Section Ranger of Phalaborwa, told the Herald, “It was around the afternoon when somebody called and informed me about a tourist stepping outside their car and operating a drone.”

She says that the individual was first seen at Nhlaganini Dam and was later spotted at Sable Dam before he sped to Phalaborwa Gate.

“I called the security officials at the gate and told them to keep the car there. I contacted the police thereafter,” Keet explained.

According to Phaahla, upon the arrival of the car at the gate, the Protection Services of the Park and SAPS searched the vehicle and a drone was indeed found in his possession.

“He explained that he did not go through his permit rules and was not aware of the ban on drones inside the park,” Phaahla told the Herald.

When the officials also asked as to why he was flying the drone in the Park, his explanation was that he was trying to get wildlife visuals.

“The visuals were downloaded from the drone and he was then released by SAPS,” Phaahla continued.

“We have printed the rules on our permits and we have done media campaigns to alert visitors to the National Parks that drones are not permitted,” says Phaahla.

“We would like to advise our visitors to always go through the rules of the park when visiting,” he stated.

He continued by saying that transgressors of those rules might end up with a steep fine or even being banned from the Park. “We all need to be responsible and enjoy our natural heritage without inconveniencing others,” Phaahla concluded.

https://letabaherald.co.za/49220/knp-da ... rone-park/


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Richprins
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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

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Doesn't Sprocky drive a blue audi? O-/


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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

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I also thought, I hope it's not Sprocky! lol


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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

Post by harrys »

Flutterby wrote:I also thought, I hope it's not Sprocky! lol
I don't think so, Sprocky is a responsible mite and knows the rules \O X#X


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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

Post by Lisbeth »

Sprocky knows that drones are prohibited in the park!

Little by little those drones owned by private people have started to be off limits in many places, at least here in Switzerland.


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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

Post by Sprocky »

Richprins wrote:Doesn't Sprocky drive a blue audi? O-/
Not yet. And, it's chops like that, that are causing problems for legal drone pilots. O/


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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

Post by okie »

Richprins wrote:KNP: Day visitor detained after flying drone in Park

2 days ago
Billy Sibuyi

Drones are not allowed in KNP or other parks.

“He explained that he did not go through his permit rules and was not aware of the ban on drones inside the park,” Phaahla told the Herald.

.

“We have printed the rules on our permits and we have done media campaigns to alert visitors to the National Parks that drones are not permitted,” says Phaahla.

“We would like to advise our visitors to always go through the rules of the park when visiting,” he stated.

Hmmm.... very very few people actually look at rules -- it is like when buying a new toaster : nobody read the instructions before using it 0*\

However , if the park rules are specifically and verbally explained at the time when tourists enter the park , then I am quite sure that transgressions will be drastically reduced :O^


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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

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Life ban for drone-flying visitor in the KNP


Stefan de Villiers


PHALABORWA – A man’s decision to disobey the rules cost him dearly when he was banned from the Kruger National Park (KNP) for life for operating a drone.

The guest, whose identity is not known, flew his drone over a troop of baboons earlier this month. Two visitors to the park, busy watching hippos at Nhlanganini Dam in the northern region, saw baboons going for a drink when the man nearby got out of his car and sent his drone up in the air to obtain video footage. When confronted, he claimed that he did not receive a memo warning of its illegality. The visitors took photos as proof and immediately reported it to the nearest camp, Letaba. As he was about to leave, he was greeted by the park’s protection services and the SAPS, laying in wait at the Phalaborwa Gate.

According to media specialist, Ike Phaahla, upon the arrival of his car at the gate, the vehicle was searched and a drone was in his possession.

“He explained that he did not go through his permit rules and was not aware of the ban on drones inside the park,” Phaahla said.

When the officials also asked why he was flying the drone in the park, his explanation was that he was trying to get wildlife visuals. Phaahla once again warned individuals against flying unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones, in the KNP after the incident.

“The flying of drones is illegal in national parks, as they are legislated protected areas with restricted airspace and therefore a no-fly zone for all unauthorised aircraft systems. Currently the applicable legislation is the South African National Environmental Management Act’s (Nema) Protected Areas Act, which prohibits the flying of any machine at less than 2 000 metres above any national park.

“Flying such aircraft, getting out of vehicles on undesignated areas, interfering in sightings, and disturbing and stalking animals is illegal within the park and will bear consequences. We would like to inform wrongdoers and other drone users that, should they be found flying them in the park at any time, they will be arrested on the spot and their equipment will be seized,” said Phaahla.

Not only is this a contravention of the Nema Protected Areas Act, but there are also restrictions in terms of the aerial filming rights and therefore an infringement of SANParks’ filming/photography policy.

“These kinds of incidents can negatively impact on the well-being of animals as well as the experience of other visitors. We would like to specifically thank the guests who reported one of the incidents to the nearest camp. We would also like to encourage all law-abiding citizens to report such incidents to the emergency call centre numbers 013-735-5516/076-801-9679 so that these people can be caught in the act,” concluded Phaahla.


https://lowvelder.co.za/422886/drone-in-the-kruger/


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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

Post by Flutterby »

He learned his lesson the hard way! O**


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Re: Tourist Drones in Parks

Post by Lisbeth »

Lifetime is a bit exaggerated IMO. On the other hand everybody else will learn the lesson too......if they read the newspapers O**


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