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 Gashaka Gumti National Park’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 65 rangers and an estimated 650 livelihoods in and around the Gashaka Gumti National Park in Nigeria. 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 primary role of our rangers is to patrol the park to reduce illegal activities such as poaching, logging, cattle grazing and mining. They are in the front line in terms of actual protection of Gashaka Gumti National Park (GGNP).  Importantly, they are the people that the local communities see from day to day and so their role in maintaining a good relationship with local communities is critical. Most of our rangers come from the local communities and often since they are their only salaried people, they are a source of great pride in these villages.

Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:

Until recently, the rangers of Gashaka Gumti National Park have been severely under-resourced and unable to address the threats the park faces.  It is hard to overstate the huge impact WRC support has had on ranger motivation and morale.  WRC funds have enabled us to support regular systematic patrols across the park by providing patrol allowances and patrol rations.  As a result, poaching and illegal cattle grazing have declined dramatically.  The park communities are hugely supportive of the GGNP rangers because of a reduction in armed robbery and cattle rustling which has improved the security of the local villages.

Ongoing effects of the pandemic:

The biggest effects of the pandemic on GGNP has been a crash in tourist numbers, depressed government budgets for park operations and suspended activities of the police and the courts in the local area.  The budgets for all the parks in Nigeria were drastically cut as the pandemic impacted the value of Nigeria's currency (the Naira) by almost 30%, meaning much less money to protect the park and less money to pay the rangers. There was increased poaching and grazing in the park with less police on duty and suspended courts meaning that ranger arrests could not be prosecuted. There has also been a big jump in armed robbery and cattle rustling. WRC support has made a huge difference to protecting the park and improving security of the park villages in the face of this very difficult situation. Communities are pleased to see rangers on patrol in these tough times!

How support in 2021 could help:

Africa Nature Investors Foundation hopes to maintain the systematic patrols across the park and to expand these to the park's highlands which have not been patrolled for decades.  WRC support will provide badly needed patrol allowances and rations.  It will enable us to recruit more rangers from local communities, purchase a new vehicle, and communications all of which are needed to expand effective protection across Gashaka Gumti National Park.  The National Park Service recently told the press that partnership with ANI is one of their best achievements of the last three years.  WRC support has helped to make this possible.

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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 ANI Foundation