Wildlife Ranger Challenge
Did you catch Benson Kanyembo, from CSL, being interviewed on Sky News this morning?
Benson was promoting the Tusk Trust’s Wildlife Ranger Challenge which takes place this Sunday. Over 50 ranger teams across the African Continent are taking part in this global collaborative fundraising initiative to support the men and women who work to protect our natural resources. Due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic many non-profit organisations are now facing financial difficulties, with some not being able to pay basic wages or buy necessary ration packs for their wildlife patrols.
This is also having a knock on effect on the families they support, along with tourism industry staff, many of whom have been made redundant due to the lack of international tourists. This means they no longer have salaries for even the basic essentials, and so poaching is rising, making the Ranger’s jobs more difficult.
In a bid to help, the Tusk Trust is raising funds by asking Rangers across Africa to come together and help raise money to support their fellow Rangers in other countries. The Challenge aims to raise money to help thousands of their colleagues, enabling them to support themselves, their local communities and to help them to protect Africa’s biodiverse, but vulnerable, wildlife species.
The challenge is open for everyone around the world to join in. You can find out how by checking out their website – www.tusktrust.org
Benson and his fellow scouts will be taking part on Sunday at South Luangwa National Park. They will be running 21kms, in their full uniforms whilst carrying a 22kg pack. What Benson didn’t mention is that his team are running in our hot October temperatures – so for them it certainly won’t be a walk in the park!