FEATURE
A Marathon of Dedication Supporting Rangers through Lewa's Wildlife Race Harriet James The courageous rangers stood in a straight line, poised, each with a 22-kg bag full of stones. They were filled with anticipation; their minds were focused; the tension in the air was palpable, their nervousness clearly visible on their faces. These tireless and resilient heroes would be running in a team of four, each drawn from the eleven conservancies that signed up, and their greatest test would be that of endurance. To prove how fit they are and how well they can run together as one. They explode into motion at the sound of the starting gun. Between June and September 2023 that gun started more than 1,500 rangers off in 103 teams from 20 African countries, carrying 22kg for 21 kilometres. Could you do that? This challenge is the fourth annual Wildlife Ranger Challenge,
24 | NDEGE NEWS |DECEMBER 2023 - FEBRUARY 2024
coordinated by Tusk and the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA). It is a multi-million-dollar fundraising initiative that features a series of fitness challenges that culminate in this endurance run. The initiative is meant to unite them in a call for funding and awareness of the plight of rangers on the continent. Despite the fact that conservation rangers work tirelessly day and night, putting their lives on the line across Africa’s harsh terrain to protect our planet’s endangered species and ecosystems, they face a myriad of challenges: Long hours and nights under the open skies, harsh weather and the threat of animal attacks, low salaries without benefits or insurance. I ask again – would you protect our last wilderness spaces for these returns? And nor should they be asked to leave families in homes far away for so little acknowledgement.
Of the 89 percent of rangers surveyed across Africa, 40 percent were not covered by health insurance, 50 percent had no life insurance, and 60 percent had no long-term disability insurance. 2023 saw the instigation of regional races, with events taking place in Uganda, Zambia and South Africa, giving ranger teams the opportunity to compete directly with their counterparts. Thousands of rangers took part virtually too from their respective protected areas across the African continent. In Kenya, the event took place at Lewa Conservancy. “It has been exciting to see the growth of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge amongst our profession. For the first time ever, we hosted teams from different areas who enjoyed gathering to test themselves against their colleagues. The competition built camaraderie and fostered a sense of collaboration
