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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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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Over the past six months, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) have continued to provide unwavering support to the brave men and women who work on the front line of conservation.
In Zambia, DSWF have been supporting the protection of the Greater Kafue ecosystem which spans over 66,000km2. Through our funding, our ground-based conservation partners were able to support 28 rangers who have patrolled almost 19,000km of the Kafue ecosystem apprehending 35 poachers and seizing 35 weapons. To support these rangers, DSWF have also provided vital equipment including tents, patrol water bottles and roll mats alongside contributing to ranger salary support, performance bonuses and the provision of medicines and health insurance.
In Russia, DSWF funding has helped support rangers to protect a vital Amur tiger habitat in the Primorsky and Khabarovsky krais of the Russian Far East (RFE). Utilising an innovative technology called SMART, DSWF are helping our ground-based conservation partners to collect, measure and evaluate data to improve the effectiveness of their conservation initiatives. Over the past six months alone, DSWF supported rangers have patrolled over 9,450km to protect this vital habitat which holds 13.8% of the worlds wild tiger population.
In Namibia, DSWF are providing ranger support which has allowed our ground-based conservation partners to log a huge 38,155km of patrols throughout the Kunene and Erongo regions. This area is home to one of the last remaining populations of the desert-adapted black rhino. The last recorded poaching incident was in August 2020 meaning that over a year has now passed without a rhino being killed, an incredible achievement in comparison with the 30 animals lost between 2014-2016 which highlights the impact of the ranger patrols and monitoring activities.
The Bigger Picture
Over the past 12 months, DSWF have continued our 37-year legacy of providing unwavering support to protect some of the world’s most endangered species. Over the course of 2022 we will continue to support our long-term conservation partners to protect wildlife, tackle wildlife crime and reduce poaching threats alongside engaging and supporting more community groups working to protect wildlife.
Thanks to your help, we have granted over £11 million in direct conservation support to turn the tide on extinction.
On behalf of everyone at DSWF and the wildlife we fight to protect, Thank You.
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Thank you for supporting David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation through GlobalGiving. As well as providing you with your bi-annual Ranger project report full of fantastic news and results of this project we would also like to inform you about an exciting campaign.
In the past year one of our main objectives has been to support ranger and law enforcement programmes, working alongside our ground-based conservation partners we have seen some incredible results further protecting our keystone species. Here are a few highlights:
Thailand: DSWF funding has been allocated to support anti-poaching operations, training 182 rangers and conducting vital tiger surveys. Over the last 12 months, not a single tiger has been killed in our project area.
Russian Far East: DSWF funding has supported 125 rangers to patrol 411,905km of tiger habitat. As a direct result of these patrols, not a single tiger poaching incident occurred across the five protected areas DSWF supports.
Mongolia: DSWF supported seven rangers to effectively conduct 7,452km of patrols in the Tost Nature Reserve covering over 7,000km2 of prime snow leopard habitat.
Vietnam: DSWF supported ranger patrols covering 3,169km (equal to twice the length of Vietnam). These patrols are essential to disincentivise poachers entering the park and to remove snare traps set to capture wildlife. Data proves that the illegal poaching in the area has reduced by over 90% since the project started.
Zimbabwe: DSWF continued our long-term support of anti-poaching patrols in the Hwange National Park contributing towards 16,144km of ranger patrols, the apprehension and prosecution of 28 poachers and the removal of c.3000 snares.
Namibia: Our funding this year has supported just under 35,000km of ranger patrols and led to 27 arrests of individuals involved in rhino poaching.
Zambia: DSWF funding has allowed anti-poaching units to conduct 25,209km of ranger patrols, leading to the apprehension of 103 poachers and the confiscation of 17 firearms.
Without protecting our rangers, having funds to equip and train them, provide support for their families this incredible work would not be possible.
How can you help this vital work continue?
This week GlobalGiving are hosting their annual Little by Little campaign, this means that all donations donated through GlobalGiving to David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation between Monday 13th and Friday 17th September will receive 50% match funding from GlobalGiving. So, if you donate £20 today, we receive £30 towards Ranger protection making your contribution work that little bit harder!
We are hugely grateful that you have chosen to support us to help turn the tide on extinction. Thank you.
Little by Little Campaign T’s and C’s
The role of a wildlife ranger is vital if we are to win the war against wildlife crime. Without rangers, there would be no hope for critically endangered species like elephants and rhinos in their natural habitats, which they are fighting to protect.
The responsibilities of a wildlife ranger can vary from day-to-day, and cover anything from park protection to law enforcement and community outreach. Some of the main activities that rangers undertake across Africa and Asia funded by The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) include:
- Carrying out anti-poaching and anti-trafficking patrols across national parks.
- Locating and removing wildlife snares which pose threats to all wildlife.
- Collecting vital data on endangered species and their habitats.
- Responding to reports of wildlife crime and gathering intelligence on illegal activity.
- Working with communities to raise awareness and mitigate wildlife conflict.
In the Kafue National Park (KNP), our ground-based conservation partners rangers continue to do outstanding work and with your help they are combatting wildlife crime by targeting the key threats to wildlife in and around KNP. From April to October 2020, DSWF funded 26 Rangers who logged 2501 Ranger Patrol days protecting an area of 66000km2 and apprehending 54 Poachers, removing 164 snares and dismantling 13 poacher camps.
To learn more about our wildlife rangers, please visit our website.
“We can’t sit back and let them fight alone, they are at the forefront of species protection and need our support if we are all to enjoy and see wildlife and some of the world’s most pristine and precious habitats flourish.” Georgina Lamb, Chief Executive of DSWF.
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