Game Rangers Receive Support to Dedicate More on their Work

Hwange game rangers have faced challenges in their line of work due to a lack of material and financial resources. Image by Carmine Visuals

BY CALVIN MANIKA | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | OCT 13, 2022

In Hwange, financial and material support has been availed to wildlife rangers—a move which has the potential to yield significant results through dedication in their line of work.

HWANGE (The Citizen Bulletin) — With poor resources, Mlondolozi Ncube, a game ranger says they always face various threats including diseases such as malaria in their line of work.

On average, a ranger works almost 90 hours a week on patrol or at outpost stations with no access to shelter and clean drinking water.

“Sometimes we have to endure difficult circumstances for the sake of wildlife. It's a job we love and have dedicated our lives to it to fight against loss of biodiversity.”
Mlondolozi Ncube, Hwange game ranger

In the recent past, Zimbabwe has lost many rangers on duty especially from attacks by poachers, forcing authorities to threaten a shoot to kill policy.

On September 17, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2022 marathon was held in Hwange, Matabeleland North to raise material and financial resources for rangers.

A total of 94 teams from 21 African countries participated in the 21 kilometer run, and an estimated £10 million has been raised to date.

Goodluck Musavengana, a conservationist and adventurer, says the initiative was necessary to mobilise much needed resources to alleviate challenges faced by rangers.

“It offers support by raising vital funds, which widens access to essential equipment, enhanced training and protective measures,” Musavengana says.

“The challenge is also playing a catalyst role needed for the development of the “rangering” profession by increasing recognition for the critical roles’ rangers play,” Musavengana adds.

Founder of Scheinberg Relief Fund, Mark Scheinberg says he was proud to support the 2022 Wildlife Ranger Challenge now in its third year running.

The marathon initiative was meant to mobilise much needed resources to alleviate challenges faced by rangers. Image by Carmine Visuals

“It's an important event that highlights the incredible efforts of rangers across Africa and raises vital funds to support their livelihoods, the conservation areas in which they live and the iconic wildlife that they work so hard to protect,” he says.

The Scheinberg Relief Fund is the founding donor of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge.

It was established by Mark Scheinberg and his family during the COVID-19 outbreak to alleviate poverty through sustainable development and education among rural communities living alongside wildlife.

“It was a personal pleasure to meet dozens of rangers in Kenya last year – truly local heroes. Without their daily dedication, wildlife in the region and across Africa would not survive,” Scheinberg adds.

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The Painted Dogs Conservation (PDC) reveals that funds and material resources raised during the event will boost their efforts to maintain, strengthen and grow anti-poaching deployments.

“We have since started working closely with anti-poaching community volunteers from communities bordering Hwange National Park such as Mabale, Nabushome, Dopota and recently Sianyanga community. The support will make sure this collaboration sustains and continues,” the PDC says.

PDC anti-poaching units carry out patrols on a daily basis throughout the Gwayi Conservancy and buffer zones surrounding Hwange National Park.

They carry joint patrols with Hwange National Park and Forestry Commission officials.

“We have since started working closely with anti-poaching community volunteers from communities bordering Hwange National Park i.e. Mabale, Nabushome, Dopota and recently Sianyanga community. The support will make sure this collaboration sustains and continues.”
Painted Dogs Conservation

Wildlife ACT’s Wild Dog Programme Manager, Mike Staegemann says with financial and material resources, rangers can dedicate more to their line of work.

“Having lived and worked in a number of the Reserves across Zululand for the past 5 years, I have been fortunate to meet and interact with many hard working and dedicated rangers. It was a humbling experience for me to participate in this year’s event and be able to honour their work,” Staegemann adds.

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