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. However, the economic impact of Covid-19 has driven an increase in poaching. With tourism gone, the rangers who care for wildlife lack the resources to do their jobs. The Honeyguide 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 28 rangers and an estimated 18,093 livelihoods in and around the Randilen Wildlife Management Area in Tanzania. 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:

Randilen Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is responsible for protecting 312 kilometer square of land under the 2012 Tanzanian National Wildlife Management Area Regulations. Established by the communities in 2015, it is governed by the Authorized Association (AA), made up of 46 members with equal votes from each of the eight-member villages. The role of the AA is to enter contractual agreements, hold management accountable, and communicate to their constituents the WMA activities and results. It is through these mechanisms that the Randilen WMA can respond to the community needs and nurture community support for the project.

Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:

Randilen WMA had a goal, to become a sustainable community-based conservation area by 2021, this required the WMA to be ecologically sound, financially independent, and socially valued. By the end of 2019, Randilen was on target, however, Covid-19 struck and with it brought uncertainty and the risk of losing more than just their goals, to lose all that they had invested in over the past four years. The Wildlife Ranger Challenge restored hope, and  helped the rangers to realize that they were not alone in this challenge, and that rangers throughout Africa were all experiencing the same challenge.

Ongoing effects of the pandemic:

In Randilen poaching has seen a slight rise over the past year; from a period of at least two years of no-poaching cases to there were five bushmeat poaching cases in 2020 . However, all the incidents were reported by informers to the rangers and the ranger was successful in arresting the seven bushmeat poachers. The protection unit in Randilen WMA depends largely on the communities providing intelligence and this hinges on these communities realizing the value of the Wildlife Management Area and how this conservation initiative impacts their livelihoods. For the large part, these communities have an interest in the critical services that Randilen provides, a grazing reserve or bank, and supporting the community crop protection initiatives. Due to the continued efforts of the rangers supporting the crop protection initiatives, communities have continued to provide intelligence on any illegal activity and support the conservation goals.

How support in 2021 could help:

Randilen WMA has become the role model of community conservation areas in Tanzania; where communities and conservation organizations visit Randilen to learn of their challenges and successes. As we start to see some tourism return, it is important that the ranger’s work in Randilen continues, that Randilen, together with their rangers provide a positive model for community conservation in Tanzania. Ensuring the rangers are able to continue their good work and have the equipment and training to provide protection for both people and wildlife in 2021 towards 2022 is essential for both communities and conservation in the Tarangire ecosystem.

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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.