Wildlife Rangers

Zimbabwe Update

As summer comes to an end in Zimbabwe, our partner’s anti-poaching rangers are playing a crucial role in safeguarding the Painted Dog population of Hwange National Park. Vigilant monitoring and protection efforts in the buffer zone outside Hwange National Park have been instrumental in protecting the Umkhonto pack. The Umkhonto pack continues to, and their ability to maintain pack size and ensure habitat safety is a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of the ranger patrols and Anti-poaching units in this zone.

The Anti-Poaching Unit also helps monitor other packs, such as the Nyamepi pack, during sensitive times like the mating and denning seasons. Their presence helps prevent disturbances, such as safari operators coming too close and causing stress to pregnant females and young pups. Thanks to these rangers, no incidents have been reported this season, allowing the packs to continue their natural behaviours undisturbed.

Namibia Update

The recent rhino poaching incident is a deeply upsetting event that highlights the ongoing challenges we face in protecting these majestic animals. Despite our dedicated efforts to safeguard wildlife, this tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threats that continue to endanger rhinos in the region. Our partner’s team, composed of 44 full-time staff members—90% of whom are from the local community—alongside 70 Conservancy Rhino Rangers, has been working tirelessly to prevent such occurrences. These rangers, of whom 95% are also local, are at the frontline of our conservation efforts, striving to create a safe environment for rhinos and other wildlife.

The expansion of the rhino ranger programme into new areas has been a crucial step forward. With a vehicle and a dedicated driver assigned to the North-East landscape of the Nyae Nyae conservancy, the rangers are fully active in their mission. However, despite these advancements, the poaching incident highlights the need for even greater vigilance and stronger measures. We are resolute in our commitment to ensuring that such a tragedy does not happen again, and we are redoubling our efforts to protect Namibia’s rhinos.

Russia Update

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) has been dedicated to Amur tiger conservation since 1994. In 1998, our efforts were strengthened with the creation of the Phoenix Fund by Sergei Bereznuk, allowing us to provide nearly 30 years of support for the Amur tiger, whose population has seen slight growth and stabilization over time.

However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 brought significant challenges, including increased risks of corruption and state interference, due to sanctions on Russian entities. Despite DSWF's experience and strong networks, state intervention ultimately forced the Phoenix Fund to cease operations. Through careful planning, we ensured our support ended securely.

Despite the turbulent political and economic climate, the last five years have seen significant achievements by our partner’s rangers. In this time, over 1,000,000 km of foot and motorised ranger patrols were conducted to protect the Amur tiger.