The Wildlife Ranger Challenge has one goal: to raise money to support the work of wildlife rangers across Africa’s protected areas. Unfortunately, wildlife rangers continue to see drastic cuts in resources and an increase in poaching due to the devastating economic impact of Covid-19. As the pandemic continues to impact Africa’s communities and wildlife, the pressures on Africa’s protected areas threaten to compromise decades of development and conservation success through the elimination of essential funding for wildlife protection that comes from tourism, and through an increase in poaching.
In response to this crisis, last year businessman and philanthropist Mark Scheinberg and his family established The Scheinberg Relief Fund and, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge was mobilised. $10m was raised in 2020 to support over 9,000 rangers who collectively work to protect more than 4,000,000 km2 of conservation areas across Africa, providing salaries, equipment, and operating costs.
There are three parts to the Wildlife Ranger Challenge. The first, Mental and Physical challenges, have been completed, with rangers testing their physical and mental ability with a push-up and sit-up challenge as well as a wildlife knowledge ranger quiz. This grueling training helps to get the rangers fit for the second part of the challenge – a 21-kilometer race across wild terrain while carrying a 22kg backpack. Not too different from the many days they spend patrolling and protecting Africa’s wilderness areas.
The event is on September 18th and, so far, 187 ranger teams are taking part, representing 19 African countries.
Now you can join in too, and raise money that will help rangers do their incredibly important job of protecting wildlife for all of us.
Wherever you are in the world you can walk or run 5, 10 or 21 kilometres. Every step counts. You can do it on a treadmill, in your garden, or in the great outdoors. Up to you! Every dollar raised and step taken will be a leap towards bringing rangers back to pre-Covid-19 capacity. Every gift made will be doubled by the Scheinberg Relief Fund.
Register here to join the race: https://form.jotform.com/211331573224344
Or donate funds to the Peace Parks’ rangers here. Select your favourite team when you donate: https://wildliferangerchallenge.org/donate-2021/
Peace Parks Foundation has teams from Sioma Ngwezi National Park, Nyika National Park, Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, Limpopo National Park (2 teams entered), Banhine National Park, Zinave National Park, and Maputo Special Reserve.
Through funds raised in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, The Scheinberg Relief Fund seeks to raise a total of $5m to support thousands of rangers in the field.
If you would like to help rewild Africa and be part of the Peace Parks’ mission, you can donate here: www.peaceparks.org/donate
Remember, it’s not just a gift. You will be making a meaningful difference and impacting the course of conservation history.
