You can follow campaign updates on social media with #ForWildlifeRangers or find out more at WildlifeRangerChallenge.org.

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. African People & Wildlife’s ranger teams are joining thousands of others across the continent taking part in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, a series of physical and mental challenges, culminating in a 21km virtual race on Saturday 18th September.

You can join them! Show your support and sign up to run or walk with the community game scout team from wherever you are in the world:  WildlifeRangerChallenge.org/registration. Now is the time to go the extra mile to support our rangers!

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Your contribution will help support 17 rangers and an estimated 170 livelihoods in and around the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. 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:

Conservation and Wildlife Fund’s (CWF) field coordinator and rangers are based very centrally in our project area on the eastern edge of Hwange National Park. The CWF rangers are usually deployed in groups of three together with an armed ranger from ZimParks or the Forestry Commission. They are transported to base camps from where they patrol. Their role is to search for snares, signs of people and poaching of animals and timber. They are in radio contact with base and call for help if arrests are made or there is potential for an ambush or follow up.

Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:

Being part of 2020 WRC impacted CWF’s morale as well as our coffers. The money raised helped towards uniforms, rations and wages for the rangers; repairs to their barracks repair and maintenance and fuel for the vehicle used to deploy them. It also helped buy equipment for the new rangers that we will soon employ. 

Joining in the WRC 21km run gave our team a sense of belonging to a bigger team of rangers across Africa working towards common cause. They appreciated that they could contribute to their own employment by joining in the run to raise money for our project.

Ongoing effects of the pandemic:

Twelve months ago we were still in our first lockdown, expecting life to return to “normal” within a couple of months. Twelve months ago CWF’s anti-poaching team had just experienced one of their quietest months. Once lockdown restrictions started easing, poachers evidently leaped back into action, as shown by the fact that the number of traps and snares recovered went from 3 in May 2020 to 251 in July 2020. 

The effects of the pandemic are obvious in the communities around Hwange National Park, where many individuals were once employed in activities related to tourism. A reduction or complete removal of their income means some have turned to poaching activities and there seems to be more human wildlife conflict situations – perhaps as a result of people being less tolerant of animals in their areas as they no longer derive benefit from them.

How support in 2021 could help:

We are aiming to increase the size of our anti-poaching team to better patrol our large project area. The nearly completed new barracks at the current base and will soon be employing six new rangers. Next, CWF plan to set up a new base in another area with another field coordinator and team of rangers. This will involve patrol equipment and uniforms, wages and rations for the rangers, repair and maintenance and fuel expenses for the new vehicle. We plan to start mounted (horse back) patrols soon and are getting a sniffer canine later in the year.

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.