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. The Kissama Foundation’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 22 rangers and an estimated 100 livelihoods in and around the Luando Reserve in Angola. 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 Kissama Foundation ranger force consists of a senior lead ranger, deputy, heads of posts and field rangers. They have one main base and one advanced post . The latter is permanently occupied by a minimum of four rangers. Their major focus is anti-poaching, especially protecting the remaining giant sable herds. Rangers do daily patrols on foot and/or with motor bikes. Rangers follow indirect evidence and also rely on informants. Critical components are finding and deactivating traps in the dry season around water holes, and intersecting armed poachers throughout the year but mostly in the rainy season.

Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:

The 2020 WRC grant was critical to maintain the Ranger team operating in Luando Reserve, and as result it was instrumental in keeping giant sable herds protected and ultimately ensuring that the Kissama Foundation could keep the project going.

Due to serious funding cuts related to the pandemic, if it wasn't for the WRC Kissama wouldn't have been able to cover for the salaries of most of the ranger force and the effort of many years could be abruptly wasted.

Ongoing effects of the pandemic:

Contrary to expectations, the pandemic situation has not evolved favorably over the past 12 months. The emergency state keeps being intermittently revoked and reinstated and a sanitary fence around the capital Luanda remains in place, seriously constraining logistics, communications and services. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that things will improve in the short term. As a consequence there is a huge economic crisis spreading in the country and threatening to get worse. This has maintained and increased the organisations financial constraints as Government and private companies operating are cutting back in contributions, which should have been committed to the environment and to the giant sable project in particular. In addition, unemployment is growing and the monetary devaluation is also making people with low income more desperate. The inevitable end result is an increase in illegal activities such as poaching, and we are already feeling these consequences.

How support in 2021 could help:

Support would allow Kissama to keep their ranger unit operational for another year, at least maintaining the staff at full pay. In addition it will assist them in tackling important logistical constraints, in relation to ranger equipment, food, fuel and critical maintenance interventions.

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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.