Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2021
Fundraising for Tusk Trust
Story
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. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy’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 150 rangers and an estimated 90,000 livelihoods in and around the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. 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 Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Union for Conservation (IUCN) Protected and Conserved Area. Lewa has been a champion in the protection and preservation of Kenya’s rhino species and other endangered species in Africa for over 30 years. Lewa is home to more than 200 black and white rhinos and other wildlife. The rangers play the critical role of protecting these wildlife from bush meant hunting and poaching and fostering a peaceful relationship between the surrounding communities and wildlife through effective human-wildlife conflict management.
Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:
The 2020 WRC ensured that a host of rangers that had been sent home on unpaid leave as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic were recalled. The funds received from 2020 WRC also helped reinstate the full salaries of the remaining rangers, who had to take a salary cut ranging from 60%, 50%, and 30%. This helped in uplifting the morale of the rangers who put extra efforts to ensure zero poaching rate of rhinos in 2020.
Ongoing effects of the pandemic:
Due to the vigilance of the rangers and the proactive approach to security, Lewa has continued to maintain zero poaching rate as was the case in 2020. However, the poaching level threat remains high and investment into an improved level of surveillance, information gathering, and other aspects of security remain critical. Additionally, human-wildlife conflict (HWC) remains a significant challenge in realizing conservation efforts. Between December 2020 and May 2021 Lewa recorded a total of 31 HWC cases which included farm invasions and wildlife attacks on livestock and people. During the same period, Lewa also responded to 14 Human-Human conflict (HHC) cases relating to stock theft, robberies, and banditry, and made several arrests. The success of conservation depends on an effective management of both HWC and HHCs.
How support in 2021 could help:
Support in 2021 will help in providing and strengthening the operational support to both the armed and general security teams that play the critical security role that includes information gathering, security patrols, HWC management, rapid response to both HHCs, HWCs, and poaching attempts.
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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.
