Thuma Forest Reserve - Wildlife Action Group
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2021
Fundraising for Tusk Trust
Story
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 Thuma Forest Reserve’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 42 rangers and an estimated 504 livelihoods in and around the Thuma Forest Reserve in Malawi. 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:
Our rangers patrol on foot 365 days of the year, protecting the habitat and wildlife living here which includes some of the world's most threatened species such as elephants and pangolins. They prevent and promote human wildlife co- existence which is critical for the ongoing protection of the area and the wildlife. They also engage communities in conservation awareness and development of areas close to the forest. They also collect data such as monitoring of wildlife, rescue and rehabilitate injured or sick animals, and assist with tourism.
Impact that 2020 WRC had on Organisation & Rangers:
WRC has meant we have been able to keep all rangers in the field during the COVID pandemic ensuring ongoing protection of the forests and wildlife. 2020 saw the 3rd year without losing an elephant to the illegal wildlife trade and most wildlife populations are increasing.
The WRC has been far reaching, as not only has it had a huge impact on our conservation efforts here but also reached out and touched rangers’ direct families and dependents, ensuring children continued to be educated, or could afford to go to hospital for treatment.
Ongoing effects of the pandemic:
We in Malawi are still seeing new variants of COVID arrive on our doorstep, vaccination programs have not been really accepted by the majority of the population. Hospitals are under-resourced, without oxygen or preventative equipment. We are red listed which makes travel to and from difficult and this still poses huge challenges for conservation via loss of tourism.
How support in 2021 could help:
Donation and funding has proven to be difficult via our normal routes, so we have found ourselves almost completely dependent on WRC funding.
Being part of the challenge itself is a massive boost to ranger morale and support in 2021 will ensure we can continue our basic operations at a high standard ensuring ongoing protection in these two forest 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 Wildlife Action Group
