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. Project Rhino’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 500 rangers and an estimated 1,000 livelihoods in and around 32 reserves across South Africa. 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:

Project Rhino supports the work of over 500 Rangers in 32 reserves we work with. The direct Project Rhino team members consist of six K9 Handlers, and a dedicated pilot, whose sole purposes are to provide backup and specialist support to the 500 Rangers across the reserves.The K9 team is on 24 hour standby. Key activities include tracking, detection, fence patrol, attending to roadblocks with local police. The ZAPWing Pilot does daily surveillance and routine inspection flights over all our reserves, assisting in poaching incidents, by being an elevated eye in the sky. Rhino poaching site location is a key activity.

Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:

WRC was an incredible morale booster and really inspired the team. They felt great knowing that they were supporting fellow rangers across the continent, protecting ecosystems and helping to protect endangered species in this difficult pandemic time. Our K9 team averaged 6-8km foot patrols per day, removed a monthly average of 25-30 snares from the bush during patrols, responded to and acted upon 27 poaching incidents and confiscated seven illegal firearms. We assisted with the arrests of 17 perpetrators that fall into a variation of categories from theft, to counterfeit goods to poaching of animals and trading in animal parts.

Ongoing effects of the pandemic:

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, all our major fundraising campaigns have come to a dead halt. Until we have the ability to host Project Rhino fundraising events and campaigns— which typically cover at least 75% of Project Rhino’s operating budget annually—we will be under immense financial constraints to keep our projects running. Based on existing capacities on the ground, we continue supporting all 32 reserves covered by Project Rhino. Covid-19 has also halted all tourism activities in our partner reserves, which reduces traffic and in some instances may mean the complete closure of reserves if this scenario continues.

How support in 2021 could help:

Additional funding will go to supporting Project Rhino K9 unit and Zapwing unit, as well as some very needed ranger equipment. We will also target to support ranger families and other community members impacted by Covid-19 around reserves, with food parcels and fortified porridge, using our existing platform of Feeding the Wildlife Communities.

We realise that a single fund cannot possibly hope to resolve all issues during this time and will therefore spread the fund as far as possible. Keeping our K9 unit operational and Zapwing patrols in the air provide invaluable support to all rangers in our reserves.

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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 R Bog Photography