Thousands of Wildlife Rangers Join Forces Across Africa to Help Their Fallen Colleagues

For the third consecutive year, over 100 ranger organizations from more than 20 African countries came together for the 2022 Wildlife Ranger Challenge.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For the third consecutive year, over 100 ranger organizations from more than 20 African countries came together for the 2022 Wildlife Ranger Challenge. The Challenge, organized by Tusk in partnership with the Game Rangers' Association of Africa and NATURAL STATE, provided a platform for rangers to raise money to help thousands of their colleagues and culminated in a half marathon on Saturday, September 17th. The first-place team was the DNPW Nsumbu team from Nsumbu National Park in Zambia with a time of 02:08:56.

This year's race included an all-star team comprised of four elite wildlife rangers from across three African countries to complete the Challenge, in a show of pan-African camaraderie and teamwork. Rangers participating in Kasane and across the continent completed the grueling half marathon Challenge while carrying close to 50lbs (22lbs for women's teams) - a weight equivalent to an average fully packed check-in suitcase.

Racing across Africa's protected areas, the wildlife rangers united around one common goal - to raise funds for frontline conservation efforts at a time when resources are thinly stretched. Previous years' campaigns have raised a total of more than $11 million, including generous match funding from the Scheinberg Relief Foundation.

"The times achieved by rangers across Africa were extraordinary, reflecting the exceptional caliber of individuals working across the front lines of Africa's protected areas," said British adventurer and Wildlife Ranger Challenge supporter Bear Grylls. "Despite facing enormous challenges, rangers continue to go above and beyond, and could not be more deserving of our support."

The 2022 Wildlife Ranger Challenge put the spotlight on the ever-diversifying role of rangers to demonstrate their critical role in protecting natural, cultural and historical heritage. However, all too often, rangers operate under poor and dangerous working conditions. It also seeks to increase support for the ranger workforce by raising funds which will help to widen access to essential equipment, enhanced training and protective measures.

"I was proud to be part of the all-star team representing the Wildlife Ranger Challenge at the African Ranger Congress," said George Kamasiai, Anti-Poaching Unit Team Commander, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. "My work as a ranger is complex and wide-ranging. While we are often thought of as working solely out in the field, we know how important it is to engage local communities in conservation through development, education and advocacy. It is my hope that the race helped to highlight the critical work of my colleagues across Africa as they stand between wildlife and extinction."

"We are proud to support the Wildlife Ranger Challenge in its third year, 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," said Mark Scheinberg, Founder of Scheinberg Relief Fund. "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."

The race was preceded by a series of mental and physical trials, with a new mini challenge for ranger teams with canine units, in which dogs and handlers demonstrated their tracking skills.

For more information or to donate to the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, visit wildliferangerchallenge.org. To engage in the social dialogue, tag #ForWildlifeRangers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Full results of the 2022 Wildlife Ranger Challenge can be found here.

ABOUT THE WILDLIFE RANGER CHALLENGE
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge is a multi-million-pound fundraising initiative supporting wildlife rangers across Africa's protected areas. These brave men and women are working tirelessly to safeguard the continent's iconic wildlife while raising awareness of the increasingly diverse role the wildlife rangers at a time when resources are more thinly stretched than ever before.

ABOUT TUSK
For more than 30 years, Tusk has worked to amplify the impact of progressive conservation initiatives across Africa. Since its formation, Tusk has helped pioneer an impressive range of successful conservation projects across more than 20 countries. These initiatives have not only increased vital protection for more than 40 different threatened species, but also helped to alleviate poverty through sustainable development and education amongst rural communities living alongside wildlife.

Tusk partners with the most effective local organizations, investing in their in-depth knowledge and expertise. By supporting and nurturing their conservation programs, Tusk helps to accelerate growth from an innovative idea to a scalable solution.

ABOUT SCHEINBERG RELIEF FUND
The Scheinberg Relief Fund is the founding donor of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge. It was established by businessman and philanthropist Mark Scheinberg, and his family, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its mission is to provide meaningful difference with strategic, high impact relief for individuals and communities in locations where the family has a personal or business presence. The fund works closely with a network of trusted partners in key locations across the globe to identify local organizations, social benefit projects, charities, and communities on the ground that have limited visibility.

ABOUT GAME RANGERS' ASSOCIATION OF AFRICA
Founded in 1970, the Game Rangers' Association of Africa (GRAA) is a non-profit organisation which is the oldest, largest, and most representative ranger association in Africa. The GRAA is a proud member of the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with recognised chapters in Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.

Media Contact

Heather Marohn, Bullseye Communications, 908-268-3770, [email protected]

SOURCE Wildlife Ranger Challenge