The Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2021
Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program is raising money for Tusk Trust
Participants: Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, UNGE, INDEFOR-AP, and Drexel University.
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U.S. supporters wishing to make a tax deductible donation please click here!
About the Wildlife Ranger Challenge:
Covid-19 has created a temporary safer world for Africa’s wildlife. But the floodgates are opening as the economic impacts of Covid drive more poaching. With tourism gone, the rangers who care for wildlife lack the resources to do their jobs.
Your contribution will help support rangers and livelihoods on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. Every dollar we raise via JustGiving will earn an additional 25% match!
Your donation also helps to unlock vital funds for other ranger teams across Africa; the Scheinberg Relief Fund will donate the equivalent of 75% of the amount raised to the Ranger Fund!
The role of rangers:
The Gran Caldera reserve on Bioko Island on the coast of Equatorial Guinea does not have any full-time official government rangers, only part time research and protection staff. BBPP employs community rangers to deter hunting and collect valuable data. These biomonitors allow BBPP to report on the status of endangered mammals and sea turtles in the reserve to the government of Equatorial Guinea.
Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:
Support from WRC allowed BBPP's biomonitors, conservator and part time research and protection coordinators to continue activities in the Gran Caldera Scientific Reserve. The support, along with partner donations, were the only support the rangers received in 2020.
Ongoing effects of the pandemic:
The pandemic continues in Equatorial Guinea, and donor funding remains scarce due to competing priorities. The pandemic plus an accidental explosion created a serious humanitarian crisis in Equatorial Guinea and many donors have redirected funds towards public health. BBPP monitors bushmeat availability at the capital's main market. Over the last 12 months, there has been a marked increase in the availability of small mammals from the mainland indicating that demand for bushmeat remains very high. In contrast, the rate of primates originating from the Gran Caldera Scientific Reserve has remained at stable with low daily counts, which suggests that BBPP's ranger patrols are an effective deterrent to hunting. These observations indicate that in the absence of active patrols in the Gran Caldera the number of rare and critically endangered primates would increase in the market and hasten population collapse.
How support in 2021 could help:
Funding from WRC in 2021 would help in several ways. Most importantly, it would allow community rangers to continue the 30 years of work to protect Bioko Island's vulnerable wildlife, especially the thousands of nesting turtles that come ashore each year and the endangered monkeys (e.g., the Bioko Drill and Pennant's Red Colobus). In addition, the support from WRC would help the families of the biomonitors to continue their highly successful ecotourism enterprise and other sustainable livelihood activities that help local communities be champions for their park and their wildlife.
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Tusk Trust Limited is a charity registered in England and Wales, No: 1186533, and a company registered in England and Wales, No: 11948023.
In the US, “The Friends of Tusk Fund” donor advised fund is administered by CAF America (Tax ID 68-0480736)
Donors who pay tax in the UK can enhance their donation through Gift Aid, meaning that for every £10 raised, Tusk can recover an additional £2.50 for the cause from the UK Government.
US supporters wishing to make a tax deductible donation please click here.