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

Track animals and identify spoor using moderately difficult spoor 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
8518  Track animals and identify spoor using moderately difficult spoor 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Hospitality,Tourism,Travel, Leisure and Gaming 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services Hospitality, Tourism, Travel, Gaming and Leisure 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  50 
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 
The learner assessed as competent against this unit standard will be able to:

Accurately identify from easy to difficult spoor of small to large animals occurring in the area of operation and systematically follow the spoor of a large ungulate (hooved mammal) under difficult conditions. This competence will enable the learner to track animals in guiding, conservation and other contexts where this level of competency is required. The unit standard will expand the learner's skills base and increase his/her employability in conservation (e.g. anti-poaching), search and rescue, hunting and guiding fields. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
No literacy or particular language skills are required for this unit standard.
Tracking skills at NQF Level 2 are assumed. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Range statements are described by SAQA as "a general guide to the level, scope and complexity". These are provided in the modifiers under each specific outcome. 

UNIT STANDARD OUTCOME HEADER 
Accurately identify from clearly defined to obs 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Accurately identify from clearly defined to obscure spoor of small to large animals. 
OUTCOME NOTES 
For example / Range:
  • Mongoose, genet, civet, caracal, impala, elephant, steenbuck, leguaan, ostrich. 

  • ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Accurately identify from clearly defined to obscure spoor of small to large animals (classified as "easy", "moderately difficult" and "very difficult") occurring in the area of operation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    For example / Range:
  • Mongoose, genet, civet, caracal, impala, elephant, steenbuck, leguaan, ostrich. 

  • SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Systematically follow the track of a medium to large animal for at least 30 minutes until it is f 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    For example / Range:
  • Rhino, elephant, lion. 

  • ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Systematically follow the track of a medium to large animal for at least 30 minutes until it is found under moderately difficult conditions 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    For example / Range:
  • Rhino, elephant, lion. 

  • SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Interpret behavioural patterns of animals by means of inductive-deductive reasoning from observat 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    For example / Range:
  • Mating, chasing prey, feeding, territorial marking, resting. 

  • ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Interpret behavioural patterns of animals by means of inductive-deductive reasoning from observation of spoor 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    For example / Range:
  • Mating, chasing prey, feeding, territorial marking, resting. 

  • SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Estimate the age of spoor as fresh enough to follow and find or not. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    For example / Range:
  • Use climatic conditions (rain, wind, etc.), soil type, tracks of other animals to determine age (today, yesterday or older) 

  • ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Estimate the age of spoor as fresh enough to follow and find or not. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    For example / Range:
  • Use climatic conditions (rain, wind, etc.), soil type, tracks of other animals to determine age (today, yesterday or older) 


  • UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Anyone assessing a practitioner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

    Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or will assess this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
    Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.

    Therefore anyone wishing to be assessed against this unit standard may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution which is accredited by the relevant ETQA. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Thorough knowledge of the behaviour patterns of medium and larger animals 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    This unit standard relates to and promotes all of the critical cross-field outcomes of the NQF. Each specific outcome of the standard has been crafted to relate to one or more of the Critical Cross Field Outcomes. A cross-referencing has been listed below.

    Providers of learning against this unit standard should take particular note of the Critical Cross Field Outcomes and design their achievement into all learning.

    Problem solving relates to specific outcomes 2, 3 and 4 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Self organisation and management relates to specific outcomes 2 and 3 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Information evaluation relates to specific outcomes 1, 2,3 and 4 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communication relates to specific outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Inter-relatedness of systems relates to specific outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    The assessment of practitioners against this standard should meet the requirements of established assessment principles.

    It will be necessary to develop assessment activities and tools that are appropriate to the contexts in which practitioners are working. These activities and tools may include an appropriate combination of self-assessment and peer assessment; formative and summative assessment; portfolios and observations etc.

    The assessment should ensure that all the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge are assessed.

    The specific outcomes must be assessed through observation of performance. Supporting evidence should be used to prove competence of specific outcomes only when they are not clearly seen in the actual performance.

    Essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in its own right, through oral evidence. It cannot be assessed only through seeing the knowledge being applied.

    The specific outcomes and essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in relation to each other. If a practitioner is able to explain the essential embedded knowledge but is unable to perform the specific outcomes, they should not be assessed as competent. Similarly, if a practitioner is able to perform the specific outcomes but is unable to explain or justify their performance in terms of the essential embedded knowledge, they should not be assessed as competent.

    Evidence of the specified critical cross-field outcomes should be found both in performance and in the essential embedded knowledge.

    Performance of the specific outcomes must actively affirm target groups of practitioners and not unfairly discriminate against any practitioners. Practitioners should also be able to justify their performance in terms of these values. 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    As a general indication, the knowledge and insight expected at this level is unlikely to be obtained without at least two years of active tracking in the field.
    The learner should track for a period of at least 30 minutes and find the animal. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48879   National Diploma: South African Special Forces Operations  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2010-04-07  Was SAS SETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  71549   Further Education and Training Certificate: Tourist Guiding  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  CATHSSETA 
    Elective  20155   National Certificate: Tourism: Guiding  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2009-09-09  Was CATHSSETA until Last Date for Achievement 


    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.
     
    1. Xinghalana African Wildlife Academy 



    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.