Just an annual reminder to tourists and anybody visiting a national park in South Africa that – while the authorities really appreciate your company – parks authorities are not happy that visitors continue to sneak in drones to try and steal an image or two from above.

So disturbed has the South African National Parks (SANParks) by this development that it has issues a statement reminding tourists not to fly their small drones while on national parks land.

“The South African National Parks (SANParks) would like to remind the public that flying of unmanned aerial vehicles which are commonly known as drones is not permitted in any National Park irrespective of what the purpose may be,” the wildlife authority said in a statement.

“This practice is prohibited in terms of NEMA Protected Areas Act which states that “it is illegal to fly below 2,500 feet above the highest point of any national park, with any aircraft/drone without the express permission of the Management Authority of the particular National Park” i.e. SANParks; and therefore, they are legislated protected areas with restricted airspace, which make them no-fly zone for all unauthorized aircraft systems.

“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.”

The agency went on to add that flying UAVs illegally in the park can negatively impact on the wellbeing of animals as well as the experience of other visitors; to such an extent that it can end up disturbing and stalking animals.

“We would like to warn 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 confiscated.

“We also encourage all law-abiding citizens to continue to report such incidents so that these people can be caught in the act.”

Just in August last year, visitors at Kruger National Park were fined R1,500 (about $75) for flying a drone without express permission of parks authorities.

Environmentalist and Ecosystem Ecologist at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife – who herself is a staunch proponent of drone technology in so far as it valuable in wildlife management applications that include environmental and species monitoring, search and rescue, law enforcement and incident investigations – has been on record warning that improper use of drone technology around wildlife could trigger unwanted consequences.