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 Mau Eburu Forest Reserve’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!

---

Your contribution will help support 6 rangers and an estimated 60 livelihoods in and around the Mau Eburu Forest Reserve 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:

Our team at Eburu Forest is a joint patrol team including armed members of Kenya Forest Service and Kenya Wildlife Service, and community trackers. Rhino Ark has brought the teams together using coordinated field management for improved communications and effective operations. Field teams conduct camera trapping exercises, de-snaring foot patrols, and dark operations aimed at securing arrests. We supervise a local intelligence team tasked with reporting on illegal activities in their home locations. Rangers participate in monthly security meetings, and a larger joint forest security meeting 2 times per year, to keep the channels of communication open.

Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:

The WRC in 2020 was a bright light in a very dark year for us. Our staff teams were severely compromised through reduced pay, and the resulting reduced forest operations. This challenge was compounded with an increase in illegal forest activities and wildlife crimes. Bringing them together in a positive way through comradery and physical challenge made them proud and reminded them why they are wildlife rangers. The experience also grew forest security awareness beyond our teams, as forest-adjacent community members became aware of our efforts when teams marched through their areas in parade boots and carrying their banner.

Ongoing effects of the pandemic:

Through the support of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, we have been able to put field teams back on the ground in full force. The pandemic increased the level of illegal activity observed inside the forest, and our teams have been able to respond effectively to that challenge. In 2020, we had completed the following: 137 days of de-snaring foot patrols, 24 days camera trapping, 13 days dark operations leading to arrests, and 14 joint forest security meetings. The bigger picture however, is still not where we would want it to be. Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust remains in a precarious financial situation, with our major fundraising event cancelled in 2020 and yet to take place in 2021. A much scaled-down version is planned for July, and will ideally bring with it an injection of support. We are aware however that fund raising will be unlike other years.

How support in 2021 could help:

With support from Tusk Trust in 2021, we will be able to continue with our robust, improved forest security measures in the Mau Eburu Forest, and in the Aberdare as well. We will be able to ensure that we can pay our community rangers and wildlife trackers their salaries in full, thereby supporting their families as well. We will continue to build a positive feeling about the work; a sense of comradery and competition; the feeling of pride for the vitally important work they do protecting our Kenyan mountain forests and wildlife; and raise conservation awareness in the wider communities.

-----

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.