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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Provide support to control damage-causing animals 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
257159  Provide support to control damage-causing animals 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Nature Conservation 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Nature Conservation 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  6 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is aimed at individuals required to provide support during the location and control of potentially dangerous damage causing animals and process the carcasses in accordance with accepted conservation principles. On completion of this unit standard the learner will also be able to participate in community interactions with regard to impacts involving damage causing animals.

It is envisaged that responsibility for the dispatch of a dangerous damage-causing animal is the responsibility of a more senior person. The learners at this level will only assist in the process and provide back-up where required.

The learner will be able to:
  • Identify and locate damage causing animals in the area of operation.
  • Perfom all precautions that may be necessary involving potentially dangerous damage causing animals.
  • Skin and dispose of carcasses.
  • Interact with communities through education and the mitigation of impacts by damage causing animals. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are competent in:
  • Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 3.
  • Relevant fire-arm competency supplemented by appropriate advanced weapons handling.
  • Basic tracking skills. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Identify and locate damage causing animals in the area of operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Damage causing animals are identified within the area of operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A description is given of the precise nature of the damage caused. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Damage causing animals are located and an accurate picture is given of the extent of infestation/damage in the area of operation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Perform necessary precautions that involve potentially dangerous damage causing animals. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Potentially dangerous damage causing animals are located within the area of operation by applying tracking skills. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Spoor; droppings; visual and auditory signs; threat behaviour; social status of individual; stress levels; flight-or-fight distances.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Information from parties affected by the activities of potentially dangerous damage causing animals is used to locate and control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Trapping and baiting techniques are applied effectively during control operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Appropriate back-up support is provided, in particular, warnings in the event of a charge. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Interact with communities through education and the mitigation of impacts by damage causing animals. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Information is gathered from local communities relating to the damage caused by problem animals. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Damages in the community are quantified as to determine potential mitigation requirements resultant from damage causing incidents. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The impact on the community is addressed through the provision of educational information as it applies to the problem animal incident. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Education is provided to communities relating to damage causing animals; which might affect the community in the area of operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Community reimbursement processes are concluded according to operational requirements, if and where required. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Skin and dispose of carcasses. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Skinning procedures are carried out according to identified requirements and accepted procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Steps are taken to preserve skins, horns and hoofs in accordance with accepted procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Carcasses, skins, horns and hoofs are disposed of in accordance with accepted procedures. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing an individual against this unit standard must meet the assessor requirements of the relevant ETQA. In particular, such assessors must demonstrate that they assess in terms of the scope and context defined in all the range statements.
  • Any institution offering learning towards this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • External moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Animal identification: Species and damage causing individual.
  • Animal behavior, physiological stresses, threat behaviour, fight-or-flight distance.
  • Appropriate legislation.
  • Types of control measures, e.g. Trap cage construction/maintenance/types, baiting.
  • Data collection techniques.
  • Warning signs and sounds.
  • Shot placement. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Problem solving using creative thinking:

    The problem of how to deal with the threat posed by damage-causing animals is the central focus of this entire unit standard. Providing input into plans for the control of damage causing animals requires that the learner develop the ability to solve problems efficiently, taking into account a wide range of factors at work within a conservation area. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Operate effectively in a group or team:

    Providing assistance in the control of damage causing animals requires that the learner develop the ability to cooperate as a good team player, following instructions of a team leader carefully and promptly. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    This unit standard requires the learner to participate in efforts to interact with communities affected by damage causing animals. This involves the sharing of information and education of the community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use of science and technology:

    It is important for a learner to master the use of tools and equipment for the purpose of controlling damage-causing animals. This is a central focus of this unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Personal development:

    This unit standard focuses on the acquisition of such skills as tracking, trapping, baiting, skinning and disposal of carcasses, all designed to provide assistance in controlling damage-causing animals. It also requires the learner to deepen knowledge of the behaviour of potentially dangerous damage causing animals and safety factors. An important aspect of personal development promoted by this unit standard is the contact made with communities that are affected by the activities of damage causing animals. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    The range associated with dangerous damange causing animals includes but is not limited to lion, elephant, buffalo, crocodile, hippopotamus, hyaena, bushpig and/or leopard.

    Relevant fire-arms competency and application skills within the nature conservation environment is an absolute pre-requisite to this unit standard.

    Supplementary Information:
  • Non-dangerous and potentially dangerous animals: Their behavior and associations are all identified and understood.
  • Extent of damage is assessed and valued.
  • Applicable methods with appropriate damage causing animals are matched together/selected.
  • All available methods are demonstrated.
  • Carcass/trophy dressed/skinned/treated.
  • Live animals translocated under minimal stress (chemicals).
  • Hygienic food preparation.
  • Potential disease testing/post mortems/sampling.
  • Collect incident/data information.
  • Causes of damage causing addressed/repaired.
  • Incident data recorded, reported and verified. Weights, nutrition, S+A, (Please check) scientific data etc. collected and stored.

    Values:

    Demonstration of the knowledge and skills outlined in this unit standard must be consistent with the principles of:
  • Maintaining essential ecological processes and life-support systems.
  • Maintaining genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
  • Considering ecological and social rights and responsibilities, whilst ensuring sustainable utilisation of species and ecosystems.
  • Thereby yielding the greatest sustainable and equitable benefit to present generations whilst maintaining the potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  63109   Further Education and Training Certificate: Nature Conservation: Natural Resource Guardianship Terrestrial  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CATHSSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.