Rangers are the frontline in conservation – the eyes and ears on the ground and often the first to an incident. These men and women are rigorously trained, passionate about their work and very brave.
We have a number of ranger teams on the ground, each fulfilling different but equally vital roles.
In Namibia we have a dedicated unit of anti-poaching rangers at Etosha Heights Private Reserve. This unit is on the ground 24 hours a day, deterring any illegal hunting in the reserve and protecting the rhino population there. These men on the ground are supported by increasingly advanced technology which helps detect threats and monitor the rhinos, making the rangers as effective as possible. Also in Namibia, but closer to Hoanib Valley Camp, we support the community rhino rangers in the Sesfontein Conservancy on an ongoing basis with the equipment and food that they need.
We’ve established a similar setup in Botswana at Khwai Private Reserve (KPR) where our anti-poaching team patrols the concession. Their key purpose is to combat the threat of poaching in the reserve, but they also collect population data, manage invasive species and protect endangered trees. We supported them with an array of tools to help get the job done, including drones, binoculars, cameras, two-way handheld radios, tablets, and even motorbikes in order to reach less accessible parts of the concession. Guests with a particular interest in this anti-poaching work have the opportunity to head out before dawn with the rangers on the KPR ranger experience to see how they work and gain a deeper understanding of the service they deliver.
This World Ranger Day we have more exciting developments with the addition of another ranger team – the Green Griffons. Named after the Cape Griffon vulture which occurs in Mkambati Nature Reserve on South Africa’s Wild Coast, this all-female team are currently undergoing intensive training and will operate in the picturesque reserve where GweGwe Beach Lodge can be found. A careful selection process resulted in twelve women being appointed to the Green Griffons – all hailing from the local community. “Women have a much deeper connection to their communities and know better what’s happening,” notes Natural Selection co-founder Colin Bell. Once their training is completed, these talented women will be kept very busy. They will monitor the wildlife in the reserve which includes zebra, eland, red hartebeest, blesbuck, reedbuck and kudu, and will also be in charge of de-snaring and species identification. The team will undertake marine coastal patrols as well as tracking movements within the reserve and carrying out surveillance. The rangers will traverse the reserve in a pair of Ineos Grenadier vehicles which have been adapted specifically for the Griffons’ requirements and will allow them to cover distances quickly and easily.
The work rangers undertake is crucial for safeguarding wildlife areas in which they operate and is made possible in part, due to donations. Your contribution can make a significant impact, for example 330 USD contributes to a monthly anti-poaching ranger salary; 500 USD for a Garmin InReach device for communication in remote areas; 500 USD for a camera trap and 7500 USD for a specialised drone would assist in crucial surveillance. Any donation, large or small helps to support ranger conservation efforts, and their ability to protect our natural heritage more effectively.