It seems to be everyone's dream to be a game ranger or to be associated with a nature conservation institution.
In reality, many people pass up an opportunity to become part of the sphere of nature conservation, because they are unaware of the spectrum of career opportunities offered by KZN Wildlife. Did you know, for instance, that it is possible for an auditor carrying out an audit, to find him or herself flying to a remote reserve and then being ferried to the Ranger's office by boat? It happens!
Working for KZN Wildlife, you will be offered many opportunities fitting the romantic ideal of Nature Conservation.
There is also however, a concrete reality, namely that there is a considerable amount of arduous work to be done, both in the office and in the field.
This type of work not only offers a very high degree of job satisfaction, but direct involvement in the conservation of KwaZulu-Natal's natural resources.
Irrespective of whether you are employed in the service as ranger in one of the reserves, a nature conservation scientist, or in one of the service posts such as an accountant or mechanic you are continually making a contribution to nature conservation.
In order to cope with the almost bewildering variety of functions, duties and activities, KZN Wildlife has been divided into three main sections that deal with the conservation of the province`s biodiversity resources and a number of service sections that facilitate this as well as facilitating public access.
These directorates are Conservation, including Conservation Partnerships and Projects and Scientific Services, Commercial Opporations which includes all revenue generating operations, Corporate Support Services which includes Finance, Human Resources, Internal Audit, Technical and Information Systems.

NATURE CONSERVATORS
Nature Conservators are known as "Rangers" in KZN Wildlife.
Their duties are extremely varied and a high degree of practical versatility is therefore a prerequisite for appointment.
The minimum qualification required is the National Diploma in Nature Conservation.
This is a three-year course involving two academic years.
This course can be taken full-time at the following Technikons, Cape, Mangosuthu, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria and by correspondence through Technikon South Africa.
Duties of a Ranger are extremely varied. Some can be very exciting, while others are very mundane.
The combination, however is usually very stimulating.
Generally speaking, a Ranger's duties would cover control over subordinate staff, the monitoring of plants and animals in the area and the recording of these observations.
Law enforcement and anti-poaching patrols, game capture, game counts, culling, fire management through controlled burns or firebreaks, fence and road maintenance.
Above all, the ability to interact with people is extremely important both in the case of reserve visiters as well as with neighbouring communities.
Community conservation has become an extremely important objective for the long term success of biodiversity conservation in KwaZulu-Natal.

NATURE CONSERVATION SCIENTISTS
The main responsibility of nature conservation scientists is to provide advice on the conservation management of wildlife resources.
Such advice is based on research and monitoring programmes and on literature reviews.
The minimum academic requirement for nature conservation scientists is a four year BSc degree, a BSc(Honours) degree or equivalent.
A higher qualification is desirable in most cases.
Serving officers are also afforded the opportunity to continue with post-graduate studies as part of their duties.
The Scientific Services Branch is divided into two divisions.
Biodiversity Research and Planning. Ecological Advice now falls in the Conservation Management structures.
The nature of the post determines the field in which each scientist will operate.
Their work includes surveys of flora and fauna species or communities occuring in marine, terrestrial and freshwater systems, the examining of relationships within and between systems as well as the assessment of the effects of management actions and the use of wildlife resources, with special reference to species and habitats.

OTHER POSTS OF INTEREST
People trained in the hospitality field to manage the Services' visiter facilities, technical people in the fields of mechanical, structural and civil work, financial and administrative people, field rangers, computer and information systems exponants, graphic artists and many others.

In addition to salary, fringe benefits include:
Pension aand Medical Aid Schemes
A 13th cheque
Generous leave
Free uniforms
KZN WILDLIFE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
For more information contact employment@kznwildlife.com