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The Wildlife Ranger Challenge: A call to action for conservation
BY NOTHANDO DUBE
In Hwange, wildlife rangers are the unsung heroes of conservation efforts. Despite facing numerous challenges such as inadequate equipment, insufficient training, and meager wages, they continue to play a vital role in protecting Africa’s precious wildlife.
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge, coordinated by Tusk and Wildlife Rangers Association of Africa, aims to support these rangers by raising funds for their welfare and upkeep. The fifth edition of this event took place on Saturday and was hosted by Painted Dog Conservation (PDC). The 21km marathon started at Dete’s Cross Mabale and ended at Main camp, with the goal of creating a united front for conservation and driving donations to support Africa’s biodiversity guidance.
“Rangers often face a number of challenges, which include lack of adequate equipment, necessary training, and their wage is generally very low,” said Samson Chibaya, Senior Regional Manager of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority who was the guest speaker at the event.
“This event creates a united front for conservation, driving donations to secure vital funding to run in tandem with Africa’s biodiversity guidance.”
Chibaya also emphasized the importance of supporting the rangers, saying, “There has to be a well-coordinated arrangement that ensures that the coordinated funds get to the rangers. That is why I say, can we take this ranger challenge possibly to another level, so that it can be seen for the benefit that we approve to the rangers.”
Chief Nelukoba, who officially opened the event, encouraged the organizers to keep up the good work in bringing more donors to help in conserving wildlife. He praised the efforts of rangers, saying, “This is very remarkable, we need such people who will help in conserving our own trees, animals, and even the soil.”
Councilor Jinn Sibanda appealed to stakeholders to capacitate the community on the importance of wildlife and nature. He applauded the recruitment of more female rangers, which has helped minimize poaching challenges.
Ronnie Sibanda from Painted Dog Conservation highlighted that the Rangers Challenge has raised over $18 million since 2020 to support rangers’ equipment, training, and remuneration.
This event, held on the same day in 24 African countries has brought together thousands of rangers and supporters globally, driving awareness of the importance of conservation and the challenges that rangers face. The funds raised will go a long way in supporting the welfare and upkeep of these brave men and women who risk their lives daily to protect Africa’s precious wildlife.
BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
The conservation world is mourning the loss of Alan Elliott, a pioneering conservationist and tourism operator who passed away this morning around 2AM at Materdei Hospital in Bulawayo.
Elliott, affectionately known as “Mandebele,” was 86 years old.
Photo by Charlene Hewat
Elliott’s contributions to conservation and tourism in Zimbabwe are immeasurable. He was one of the first people to bring tourism to Hwange, Zimbabwe’s largest national park, and founded Touch the Wild, a tourism operation that hosted numerous celebrities, including the Queen and Prince Philip.
We then contacted Charlene Hewat, a close associate of Elliott’s Presidential Elephant Research Trust (PERT), to explain further about his conservation work. Hewat described Elliott as an extraordinary conservationist who dedicated his life to protecting elephants. “Alan’s legacy is imprinted on the wild landscapes he loved so dearly and protected so fiercely,” Hewat said in a Facebook post.
In an interview, Hewat elaborated on Elliott’s work, highlighting his efforts to protect elephants in Hwange. “He went and got a decree from President (Robert) Mugabe to protect the presidential elephants, and he received that decree, and they agreed that they would not shoot any elephants within the Dete Hwange area,” Hewat explained.
Elliott’s passing has sent shockwaves throughout the conservation community, with many paying tribute to his remarkable legacy. “He’s a legend. Everybody knows him,” Hewat said. “He was an MP in Hwange, spoke fluent Ndebele, and knew a lot of the ministers. He’s just an amazing man, a legend for Zimbabwe.”
As a testament to his enduring legacy, Elliott had asked Hewat to carry on his work with the Presidential Elephant Research Trust. “It was his vision to promote young Zimbabwean researchers, and that’s something that I share and think we can take forward for the country and for the youth,” Hewat said.
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