Save wild lions. Support Lion Rangers. Promote coexistence.

About the Wildlife Ranger Challenge: 

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge is an effort coordinated by Tusk to raise funds for Rangers across Africa. On October 3rd, the Laikipia Lion Rangers joined over 50 Ranger teams in running a half-marathon, carrying their typical 22kg rucksack. 

We are incredibly proud to announce that The Laikipia Lion Rangers team from Loisaba won the race in a fantastic time of 2 hours, 21 minutes!!

The Laikipia Lion Rangers are a partnership between Lion Landscape and multiple Laikipia Ranches and Conservancies, without whose massive support, competing in this event would not have been possible. We are so happy with how all the Laikipia Lion Rangers entered into this with such enthusiasm, demonstrating the unity that the program strives to create. Thank you The Scheinberg Relief Fund and Tusk, for organising this great challenge, and allowing so many amazing Rangers across Africa to unite in a common cause. It has been an experience that the Laikipia Lion Rangers will carry with them through the year ahead.

Celebrate with us and donate before the 31st of October. Make sure to DOUBLE your impact for Laikipias Lion Rangers by donating here, where every dollar will be matched by the Scheinberg Relief Fund.

Your contribution will help support 36 Lion Rangers and an estimated 360 livelihoods in and around Laikipia Ranches & Conservancies in Kenya.

The role of Lion Rangers:

The Laikipia Lion Rangers are a partnership project between Lion Landscapes and Laikipia ranches and conservancies, working to save wild lions and promote coexistence. They are specialists, trained to help people and large carnivores to coexist. On top of their normal security duties, they also work to protect local livestock from predators and stop people killing carnivores in retaliation, particularly using indiscriminate poisons. ​Lion Rangers also keep careful track of the lions in their area, helping to prevent conflict between lions and people by warning livestock owners when lions are near. Lion Rangers are ambassadors for their wildlife ranch or conservancy, supporting and engaging neighbouring communities in conservation friendly livestock husbandry. They also collect valuable data that informs land managers and decision makers. Overall, the network of Lion Rangers across Laikipia's ranches and conservancies supports the successful human-carnivore coexistence that makes Laikipia home to the 3rd biggest lion population in Kenya and a thriving conservation livestock community.

Effects of the pandemic:

The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced employment and food security in vulnerable Laikipia communities, increased human suffering and eroded resilience to further hardships, such as livestock losses to predators. At the same time, COVID-19 is challenging the vital conservation role of all Wildlife Rangers in the region as a complete stop in tourism, zoo and event related funding restricts available salaries and resources.

In short, COVID-19 has created a perfect storm for human-carnivore conflict in Laikipia, reducing human resilience to livestock predation losses whilst also reducing the resources available for Laikipia's Lion Rangers to respond. Fast prevention or mediation of human-carnivore conflict has never been so important. Any perceived reduction in Lion Ranger support to community livestock owners now could lead to a breakdown in hard-won trust, and a rise in devastating poisoning events.

How your donation will help:

Your donation will help provide salaries, equipment, and support for the Lion Rangers so they can continue their vital conservation work. Supporting Lion Rangers to prevent poisoning events will save the lives of multiple lions, spotted hyenas, jackals, and endangered vultures, and reduce environmental exposure to harmful poisons for people and livestock. Supporting Lion Rangers to prevent livestock loss to predators will protect local livelihoods at a time when many people are increasingly reliant on their livestock to support all their family needs.

-------

Tusk is registered with JustGiving in the UK (or GoFundMe.com in the USA). Our online fundraising sites allow you to create a sponsorship form with easy access for your supporters, knowing their money is going directly to Tusk. UK tax-paying donors can enhance their contribution by agreeing to Gift Aid their sponsorship (for every £10 you raise, Tusk will receive another £2.50 from the Government provided you are a UK taxpayer). US supporters wishing to make a tax deductible donation can do so via GoFundMe.com.

DONATE. RUN. SHARE.