Thank you for your support of rangers on the frontline of conservation across Africa and Asia. In our latest update we highlight the incredible work done by DSWF supported rangers in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Vietnam.
Zimbabwe
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) provides support and funding to dedicated anti-poaching units that operate in and around Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Their recent work has been focused on safeguarding a wild dog pack that has moved into a treacherous region, rife with illegal wildlife crime. Yet, determinedly, their efforts resulted in over 3,500 snares being removed from the area over the last year.
Unfortunately, in the past few months, a mature female named Thinnet was found dead in a snare and a pup went missing from the main pack. The anti-poaching teams set up a field camp and began to carry out reconnaissance ahead of the pack, as well as close monitoring patrols. These actions saved the lives of each of the adult members of the pack, who were snared on multiple occasions, but thanks to the efforts of the rangers were able to be rescued and released successfully – often within minutes of being trapped.
Zambia
The partially DSWF-funded aerial support unit has flown more than 100 hours to bolster operations across Kafue National Park. The aerial teams conducted these operations to apprehend poachers and illegal fishermen. The “eyes in the sky” capability has enabled previously unseen illegal camps to be spotted, and ground teams are able to follow up on the given coordinates. The aircraft has also been used to support the Wildlife Rescue Programme and ensure the safety of the elephant release herd.
Over the past few months, the ranger patrol teams covered a total distance of 4,000km each month on foot, vehicle, and boat patrols. During the period, the patrols teams recovered 18kg of bushmeat and seven firearms with ammunition. They also apprehended 11 poachers.
The Special-Intelligence Unit and Special Anti-Poaching Unit conducted an operation following intelligence regarding illegal firearms. This resulted in the apprehension of seven suspects and confiscation of five illegal firearms, removal of 24 snares, and the closure of an illegal firearm repair workshop. An additional suspect was also apprehended due to possession of bush meat. A separate local intelligence lead resulted in the successful apprehension of a seller of a leopard skin.
Vietnam
The project’s anti-poaching team has played a crucial role in patrolling and monitoring the protected areas in Pu Mat National Park over the past six months. The project’s 16 rangers have coordinated closely with 69 National Park rangers and worked diligently to patrol the entire forest area of over 94,000 hectares. Patrols have been bolstered using 16 PoacherCam units and 120 additional camera traps to monitor both illegal activities and wildlife in the Co Phat Forest area.
Despite the challenging terrain and difficult conditions in the dense jungle, the anti-poaching team has been highly effective in mitigating and reducing illegal activity in the protected areas. Patrols have even continued despite an exceptionally bad flood season. Rangers have shown incredible bravery and passion for their jobs and the wildlife they protect, as they have continued to trek through the dangerous waters sweeping across the forest floor to ensure wildlife remains protected and safe from poachers.
Read more on this story here.
Thank you for your ongoing support which is enabling us to keep boots on the ground protecting endangered species.
Thank you for your continued support of rangers on the frontline of conservation across Africa and Asia. In this update we highlight the incredible work with DSWF supported rangers in Thailand and Zambia.
Thailand
Through DSWF’s continued support to our ground-based conservation partners in Thailand, one of the world’s last remaining populations of Indochinese tigers, which without long term conservation support would likely now be extinct, is now stable and slowly increasing.
Our partners work in the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai (DPKY) Forest Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thailand. It encompasses five protected areas across 6,155km2, and it is one of Thailand’s two priority sites for tiger conservation, given its key population of Indochinese tigers. Only approximately 350 Indochinese tigers remain in the wild globally, with around half of these in Thailand.
Poaching remains one of the biggest threats to tigers. They are often seriously injured or killed indiscriminately by snares set out for smaller prey species, sought by communities for food or to deter wildlife from crop raiding. Most of the snares are simply made from cheap cable, but gun snares, which use trip wires, are also frequently used and are particularly deadly for humans as well as tigers.
DSWF are continuing to support rangers working within the complex, ensuring they have high quality kit and supplies for weeklong patrols, including water filters – which are vital in preventing rangers catching disease from contaminated water sources, as fresh water is in low supply. In addition, we are supporting training and workshops for rangers to improve their knowledge and skills, so they can stay safer in the field and expertly manage and mitigate any incidents involving wildlife poaching.
Zambia
DSWF’s support over the last year to ground-based conservation partners in Zambia, has enabled the following work with rangers protecting and patrolling in and around the Kafue National Park.
DSWF funding has also enabled our partners to continue to procure vital kit and equipment for Rangers, to ensure they can work efficiently, effectively, and safely. Every Ranger has been provided with a tourniquet, and training was provided in their correct use. Tourniquets buy time for first-aid first responders to reach Rangers in the field and to treat what would otherwise be life-threatening injuries. All Rangers were also provided with new sleeping bags, roll mats, plates, glasses, cutlery, and gumboots with the aim of improving patrol conditions.
Thank you for your ongoing support which is enabling us to keep boots on the ground protecting endangered species.
Stay up to date with our work and how your generous support is making a difference; receive exciting wildlife conservation stories and hear about forthcoming campaigns, fundraising initiatives and events: Stay In Touch
Thank you for your continued support of rangers on the frontline of conservation across Africa and Asia. We are pleased to share with you some key highlights and statistics from our supported rangers the past six months:
Zimbabwe focus
The last six months have been extremely challenging for our ground-based conservation partners in Zimbabwe due to the escalating costs of operations due to large increases in fuel prices and the costs of commodities, including rations for the rangers. This is forcing them to ration fuel, which negatively impacts operations and patrols.
However, with DSWF’s continued support our partners have not yet had to reduce their activities. Poaching trends have remained about constant in the past six months. 16 rangers supported by DSWF over the past six month have been able to meet their patrol targets, patrolling for a total of 5,464 hours and covering a total of 15,446 kilometres.
The work of the professional Anti-poaching unit has been bolstered by a beneficial and successful collaboration with several community anti-poaching units, most notably the Mabale Community Anti-Poaching Unit. The relationship with this community group arose out of the need for increased ranger presence during the worst of the pandemic but it has continued since. The stipend the community unit receive significantly boosts the local economy at a time when opportunities are still scarce because of the impacts of the pandemic.
Having seen the success of the Mabala unit, many nearby communities are replicating their efforts and making their villages safer for livestock and wildlife. These are communities living on the edge of Hwange National Park who battle with wildlife co-existence challenges on an almost daily basis, so is very encouraging to see such positive community engagement. In addition, other communities are starting to show interest in setting up a voluntary community anti-poaching units of their own.
Namibia focus
The continued outstanding efforts of our ground-based partners on the ground in Namibia mean that it is now 28 months since a rhino has been poached in the area that they protect. This is a huge achievement and has contributed to an 80% drop in poaching in the last five years compared to the previous five.
However, despite the successes of the last six months and beyond, it is becoming increasingly challenging for our teams to maintain such a strong ranger presence. Fuel and field ration costs have increased significantly due to the global cost of living crisis, placing considerable strain on resources on top of regular vehicle challenges and breakdowns as the old vehicles currently in use increasingly struggle to cross the harsh terrain in the region.
With DSWF’s long term and reliable support for anti-poaching our partners have remained able to sustain ranger patrols in the last six months. Team field days, ranger field days, and foot kilometers have all increased and ranger field days are now over 1,000 a month for the first time. The biggest increase has been in patrol kilometers which reports show have increased by over 10,000km in the last six-month period. In addition, the mounted unit who patrol on Mules are now fully active and are conducting regular patrols into specific hard to access areas. Due to the ongoing and constant presence of rangers in the field this providing a large deterrent to would-be poachers. Funding from DSWF is used to keep rangers employed, supported, and equipped in the field thereby your support is hugely contributing to the success currently playing out in the region.
Stay up to date with our work and how your generous support is making a difference, receive exciting wildlife conservation stories and hear about forthcoming campaigns, fundraising initiatives and events: Stay In Touch
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) has been supporting wildlife rangers in Africa and Asia for over thirty years. Their tireless efforts are a testament to the success of our ground-based conservation partners who provide unwavering operational, training and welfare support.
In the past year we have seen an increase in protection to endangered wildlife due to the exceptional work of Rangers on the ground. Through DSWF funding our ground-based conservation partners have been able to increase the number of boots on the ground, provide vital kit, technology, and supplies, improve transport and communications as well as providing enhanced training. Due to this we have seen the following impacts from our ground-based conservation partners:
Namibia
Save The Rhino Trust continue to provide equipment, rations, and incentives such as sighting bonuses and field day allowances to over 60 rhino rangers.41 Rhino Rangers in north-western Namibia were also honoured at the Annual Kunene Rhino Awards. Rangers were recognised for their tireless work to protect Namibia’s free ranging black rhino.48,588 kilometres were covered by the rangers across areas protecting specially desert adapted black rhinos in Namibia in the past year, an all-time record.This year our partners also officially launched a new Ranger Welfare Programme which included providing basic first aid training to 71 rangers including individual first aid kits to each ranger.
India
In Assam, law enforcement efforts are boosted by ground-based conservation partner Aranyak’s K9 sniffer dogs, supported by DSWF. Along with their handlers, the dogs have covered around 1,275km in the last year, providing support to rhino and tiger protection patrols within the protected areas and leading to the apprehension and arrest of 21 poachers in the last six months. However, poaching remains a challenge in the area with increasingly professionalized poaching outfits operate in the region.
Mongolia
The Snow Leopard Trust’s program supports seven community rangers who patrolled a total of 5,750 kilometres on foot and a further 12,500 kilometres on motorcycles within Tost Nature Reserve in the last reporting yearall in preservation of vital snow leopard populations whose numbers remain stable with a healthy breeding population in the region.
Zimbabwe
In and around the Hwange National Park, anti-poaching units have exceeded expectations managing 53 patrols a month against a target of 40 and covering 16,000 kilometres on foot, removing over 5,300 snares and saving the lives of at least 500 animals including the endangered painted dog. This is based on conservative estimates that approximately 10% of snares placed in the bush result in the killing of wildlife.28 poachers were arrested and prosecuted.
Vietnam
22,637 kilometres were patrolled, 171 poachers were apprehended, 1,900 traps removed, and 176 hunter’s camps were shut down in Pu Mat National Park, Vietnam, home to pangolins, elephants, and many other endangered species. Alongside this the installation of 12 Poacher Cams has helped with the identification and arrest of suspects involved in the illegal wildlife trade including11 poachers being arrested and a further 12 being fined.
Zambia
Game Rangers International’s (GRI), rangers covered 38,575 kilometres on foot in and around the Kafue National Park, home to elephants and other endangered wildlife. 69 suspects were apprehended, and 54 prosecutions were made. In addition, aerial surveillance has enhanced patrols which has vastly increased GRI’s ability to provide a secure environment for the release elephants, the wild elephants and other key species. The plane has allowed the ability to access, at least visually, areas of the National Park which were previously inaccessible due to high water levels, which has been invaluable to operations.
Russia
DSWF funding helps support 125 rangers who work in six protected areas focused on the protection of the Amur Tiger. In the past year rangers have patrolled 15,605 km on foot, 332,099 km by motorized vehicles, 19,261 km by snowmobile, 5,369 km by quadbike, and 55,734 km by boat patrol. This has led to 386 noted violations including trespassing and illegal hunting.
Uganda
In Murchison Falls National Park, five radio towers have been installed, increasing the communications coverage of the park from 5% to 80%. Although patrol data has not yet been received, the regular scout and ranger patrols have removed thousands of snares from the bush. Snaring remains a huge problem and without regular patrols to remove the snares, many more animals would die. On a recent patrol, which two members of the DSWF team joined, 102 snares were found and removed from the park within just four hours.
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Thank you for supporting Wildlife Rangers.
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) has been supporting wildlife rangers in Africa for over thirty years. From the Kafue National Park in Zambia to the deserts of Namibia, DSWF has always acknowledged the vital role that these selfless individuals play in conserving Africa’s most endangered species, often against difficult odds.
Our ground-based conservation partners Game Rangers International (GRI) based in Zambia pursue a holistic approach to conservation by empowering Rangers across three core thematic areas: Wildlife Rescue, Resource Protection and Community Outreach. Their main area of focus is the Kafue National Park (KNP) which is a vast 22,000km2, nicknamed the ‘Lungs of Africa’ due to its sheer size and pristine wilderness. The KNP containing an incredible amount of biodiversity and populations of many rare species. With an area as vast as this to protect, it is estimated that one ranger is required per 50km2 to provide blanket protection. GRI’s resource protection rangers require key strategic planning and technology to be efficient in reducing poaching and other illegal activity within the Greater Kafue which includes the KNP and surrounding game management areas.
The implementation of the special anti-poaching units and rapid response teams allows GRI to respond in real time to live incidents and threats of poaching and human-wildlife conflict. These highly trained teams rely heavily on technology and intelligence from the local communities. Through the use of satellite radio towers within key areas of the park, linked to a control room at the base of operations, the team can track movements within the park 24/7. This includes ranger locations, collared wildlife such as elephants and lions, and patrol vehicles, all of which are linked up with GPS. The towers also have thermal imaging cameras attached which allow identification of suspicious activity such as a boat crossing the lake at night travelling from a community into the national park. Ranger teams are then deployed immediately to investigate with a clear target and location. This process has proven to be successful in the apprehension of multiple poachers, seizures of weapons and in reducing human-wildlife conflict.
Community outreach is a vital addition to the protection of wildlife within the Greater Kafue. Community outreach rangers regularly visit local communities in this area to deliver conservation education and support the community in finding alternative sustainable incomes which do not rely on resources from the national park. Part of this programme includes the training of community scouts to provide manpower to the ranger teams in antipoaching patrols. Alongside this, women in the communities are empowered by the development of enterprises such a bakeries which are set up to enable them to receive their own income and help provide for their families. These programmes have been instrumental in improving the quality of life for the communities, educating the next generation on the importance of protecting this wonderous ecosystem and the endangered species who live within it.
Find out more about our work with Rangers.
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) would love to keep you up-to-date with how your generous support is making a difference, share exciting wildlife conservation stories and tell you about forthcoming campaigns, fundraising initiatives and events. If you would like to hear more from us please let us know via our online form: Stay In Touch
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