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 North Luangwa Ecosystem’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 270 rangers and an estimated 2000 livelihoods in and around the North Luangwa in Zambia. 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 North Luangwa Ecosystem (NLE) anti-poaching units are composed of government-employed Wildlife Police Officers, and Community Scouts who are paid through safari tourism revenue. Managed through a central control room, four-person patrol teams are deployed to conduct foot patrols throughout the park, making them critical to the law enforcement strategy. The ranger force further comprises the specialised Rhino and Elephant Protection Unit, including the Rhino Monitoring Unit, which are specifically tasked to protect Zambia's only black rhino population. These forces are complemented by a highly specialised Canine Unit, which works closely with Department National Parks & Wildlife Investigations and Intelligence Units to combat illegal wildlife trade.

Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:

Through the generous support of the WRC, North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) was able to provide job security for 173 community scouts through the continuation of their basic salaries. This minimised the negative effects of the loss of all tourism revenue through Covid-19 travel restrictions. Critically, it sent a strong message to the scouts immediate and extended families as well as wider communities that wildlife and its protection are the bedrock of rural livelihoods. Also, by maintaining the rangers' salaries, it helped support rural economies where other cash income had disappeared. The challenge itself was also an incredible team building activity.

Ongoing effects of the pandemic:

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated restriction on international travel has led to almost no revenue from tourism activities for the communities in NLE for over a year. Although NLCP was able to help pay community scouts salaries following the loss of income for the communities, the economic impact was still felt as other jobs associated with tourism were lost.  Covid-19 has also attributed to a harsher economic climate in Zambia, resulting in an increase of illegal activities. This has heightened the demand for illegal bush-meat and hence increased the levels of poaching. This may have significant negative impacts not only on local wildlife population sizes but also disruption of landscape-scale connectivity, which is key to long-term conservation of wide-roaming species, such as African elephants, wild dogs, and lions.

How support in 2021 could help:

Following the success of last year's intervention, the support will once more be used to provide job security for the community scouts. Without tourism income the communities will once again not be able to pay for community scouts salaries, resulting in a potentially toxic combination of unpaid, disgruntled, and frustrated staff who are trained, equipped, and armed. This could negatively impact the security of the NLE, resulting in a reduced enforcement effort, exacerbated further as the cash income of local communities declines, and cost of living rises sharply.

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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.

Main photo courtesy of Mana Meadows