NAIROBI, July 31 (Swara) – The fifth annual Wildlife Ranger Challenge, a two-month series of extreme fitness challenges, launched today on World Ranger Day. The event aims to raise millions of dollars to conserve Africa’s natural landscapes and highlight the demanding work of wildlife rangers.
The Challenge brings together over 170 wildlife ranger teams from 24 African countries, symbolizing a growing global solidarity movement with the wildlife ranger profession. Participants will engage in various mental and physical challenges, culminating in a multi-nation half-marathon on September 21, 2024. The marathon will occur across some of Africa’s most remote and picturesque landscapes.
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge, organized by Tusk and the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA), with support from founding donor the Scheinberg Relief Fund, was first launched in 2020. It has raised over $18.5 million to support more than 13,300 wildlife rangers, who collectively protect over 60 million hectares across Africa—an area larger than Kenya.
Africa’s wildlife rangers face the challenge of protecting endangered species and ecosystems, often working in harsh conditions with limited funding. Their duties include anti-poaching operations, law enforcement, habitat monitoring, environmental education, fire management, dog training, ecological research, intelligence gathering, wildlife collaring, removing snares, assisting injured animals, and serving as emergency first responders for local communities.
The Challenge aims to elevate the wildlife ranger profession, showcase the diverse roles and challenges rangers face, raise funds for crucial conservation work, and build a supportive community among participants.
