Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
AFRICA faces a critical shortage of wildlife rangers, with only about 65 000 currently deployed across the continent against an estimated 345 000 required to effectively manage protected and conserved areas.
The revelation comes as the seventh edition of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge gets underway, with more than 2 000 rangers from over 150 teams in more than 20 African countries expected to participate.
Organised by Tusk and the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA), the annual campaign has raised more than US$25 million since 2020 to support frontline ranger teams with equipment, training and welfare programmes.
The two-month challenge will culminate in a 21-kilometre race on September 19, with thousands of rangers expected to take part while carrying operational equipment across protected areas.
In a statement, Tusk said the shortage was coming at a time when rangers were facing increasingly complex and dangerous working conditions.
“Rangers increasingly face organised wildlife crime, armed conflict, expanding human pressures on protected areas and the growing impacts of climate change,” reads the statement.
“Many continue to work with limited equipment, inadequate training and no insurance.”
Tusk president and chief executive officer, Mr Charlie Mayhew, said the US$25 million milestone was a significant achievement, but more investment was needed to support rangers.
“Reaching $25 million is an extraordinary achievement and a tribute to thousands of people who have backed wildlife rangers over the past six years. But it should not leave us thinking the job is done,” he said.
Mr Mayhew said rangers remained one of the most under-recognised workforces in conservation, despite their role in protecting wildlife, supporting communities, responding to emergencies and safeguarding critical landscapes.
“The Wildlife Ranger Challenge exists because they deserve greater investment, greater recognition and greater support,” he said.
The campaign has also contributed to the Ranger Welfare Standards Initiative, launched in 2024, which has enabled almost 6 300 rangers to access insurance cover.
The initiative aims to reach 10 000 rangers by 2030.
GRAA chief executive officer, Ms Louise de Bruin, said rangers continued to perform their duties under difficult circumstances.
“Rangers do not ask for recognition, they simply get on with their work as essential planetary health workers, protecting nature and ecosystems, often in incredibly challenging circumstances,” she said.
Ms de Bruin said the challenge provided an opportunity for the public to support the safety, wellbeing and future of rangers.
Apart from traditional anti-poaching operations, rangers monitor ecosystems, collect scientific data, respond to emergencies, educate communities and help reduce human-wildlife conflict.
The challenge will include quizzes, fitness challenges and a continental time trial ahead of the final 21-kilometre race.
Mr Pius Mutuma Mbiria of Mount Kenya Trust said rangers required adequate resources to effectively carry out their conservation duties.
“Supporting rangers means we rangers can protect the ecosystems that communities rely on more efficiently, with adequate resources and motivation despite these challenges,” he said.
A village game scout with Honeyguide in Tanzania, Mr Cristian Kapugi, said the challenge demonstrated the commitment required in wildlife conservation.
“The challenge tests us physically and mentally and it reminds people that conservation work requires endurance, courage and discipline,” he said.
The campaign is supported by founding donor Mr Mark Scheinberg, who match-funds US$1 million, alongside the Disney Conservation Fund, EJF Philanthropies and Defender.
Organisers said all funds raised would go directly to participating ranger organisations to support welfare, equipment, training and technology.
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge was established during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep ranger teams operating at a time when conservation funding and tourism revenues had been severely affected.
It has since grown into a major annual campaign celebrating Africa’s wildlife rangers and raising resources to strengthen their capacity to protect wildlife and communities living alongside protected areas.
