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14 Things You Need To Know About Being An Anti-Poaching Ranger

14 Things You Need To Know About Being An Anti-Poaching Ranger

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About 90 percent of tourists visit Africa mainly to see the wild animals. Since 1960, the continent’s rhino population has dwindled 97 percent, lions no longer live in seven African countries, 2,000 Grevy’s Zebras remain in the wild and less than 900 gorillas are left in the wild. Game rangers who are passionate about their jobs take their lives in their hands to do the dangerous work of protecting Africa’s wildlife against sophisticated poachers armed with high-tech weapons. Take out your credit card if you want to help, or check out these organizations that accept volunteers to fight poaching. Here are 14 things you need to know about being an anti-poaching ranger in Africa.

Sources: Biglife.org, awf.org, Iapf.org, Savetherhino.org, Pri.org, Nationalgeographic.com

anti poaching tactic
Kevin Walsh/Flickr.com

1. Anti-poaching tactic

Until recently, very little has been done to stop the hunt of endangered game animals across Africa. Small unorganized and untrained groups would go out on their own to search for poachers. Today, with the help of animal activists and government officials there are several official training facilities for people to become expertly skilled rangers.

anti poaching rhino
Chris Parker/Flickr.com

2. International Anti-Poaching Foundation

The International Anti-Poaching Foundation was formed by ex-soldiers who use their military skills to train rangers the safe and efficient way to stop poachers. The nonprofit receives most of its funding from Australia and is outfitted with volunteers. To learn how you can be a volunteer, go to Iapf.org.

community engagement
Diana Robinson/Flickr.com

3. Community engagement

Rangers and volunteers must get actively involved with locals and schools. Many establishments will fund visits to communities to talk about the consequences of poaching and how it affects the country’s economy. The more awareness among locals, the more they will be inclined to report any suspicious activity in their community.

gorilla
Carine06/Flickr.com

4. Protrack Anti-Poaching Unit

Established in 1992, Protrack’s goal is to ensure South Africans are responsible and don’t break the laws by killing endangered wildlife. When patrolling the parks, a team leader and a scout are at work for 16 days until they’re replaced with another team. Each member carries firearms and radio communication to call for backup when making an arrest. To learn about enlisting as a ranger or a volunteer, go to Protrackapu.co.za

park ranger
Thomas_sly/Flickr.com

5. Job creators

The rise of the anti-poaching movement has the goal of helping game animals but as an added benefit, it’s creating jobs for locals. Thousands of local Africans are trained to become rangers and supplied with decent income.

demand for ivory
Swallowtail Garden Seeds/Flickr.com

6. Demand for ivory

Being a ranger comes with understanding the root problem of illegal poaching. Since 2008, the demand for ivory has increased dramatically from China despite the trade being illegal in the country. The cost of ivory increased from $200 a pound in 2004 to $2000 a pound today. Up to 35,000 elephants are slaughtered annually for their tusks and thousands of rhinos are killed for the horns, reported to be more valuable than gold.

kenya wildlife
Gabriel White/Flickr.com

7. Kenya Wildlife Service

This establishment is grossly underfunded and can only cover 300,000 acres (only 8 percent of the country) in Kenya. Because of lack of funds, there is a limit to how much rangers can protect animals. Kenya Wildlife Service operates as an anti-poaching facility and hotline for any suspicious illegal hunting and hosts workshops to educate people on the consequences of poaching. To donate or get involved, contact KWS.org.

african safari
Dave Butler/Flickr.com

8. Tourism

Most anti-poaching organizations depend on tourism since tourists spend money that contributes to its cause and their city’s economics. Such as Kenya Wildlife Service, that charges tourists safari rides toward their anti-poaching organization.  Since the majority of tourists visit Africa mainly to see the wild animals, a declining number of exotic animals or — the worst-case scenario, extinction — will hurt the country’s economy.

serval
Michael Jansen/Flickr.com

9. Law Enforcement

Anti-poaching businesses and government have joined hands at regulating new laws and harsher sentencing (including up to 60 years of jail time if caught poaching). Because of recent collaborations with government, several anti-poaching organizations are receiving more funds due to increased awareness and charity.

k9 dogs
Aworlddifferent.com

10. Dog Units

K9 Conservation in South Africa is a specialized dog training facility that trains dogs to hunt for poachers and combat illegal hunting. Bloodhounds and German shepherds are especially used due to their heightened sense of smell. Each dog is registered and sanctioned by the Animal Protection Act 1933. Dogs are regarded as excellent companions for rangers in capturing poachers.

Source: K9conservation, Biglife

save the rhino
Jean & Nathalie/Flickr.com

11. Save the Rhino

Rhinos are hunted to near extinction. The Save the Rhino organization’s goal is to reverse their fate. Trained rangers and volunteers are sent throughout Africa (including Tanzania, Botswana and Kenya) to search for and arrest poachers. There are 250 scouts employed and expertly trained. The organization relies on government-funded grants.

desperate measures
Shankar s./Flickr.com

12. Desperate measures

Unfortunately, desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes, a team of anti-poaching volunteers will sedate the animals and de-horn rhinos or de-tusk elephants for their protection. This controversial method of deterring poachers is under fire and some don’t think it’s the most humane way to protect the lives of the animals. Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Save the Rhino back up this tactic in the animals’ best interest.

hugo ras
Citizen.co.za

13. Poachers

Because of China’s increasing demand for ivory, several small gangs of poachers work together using advanced technologies such as night vision scopes, silenced weapons, darting equipment, motorcycles, GPS with waypoints to track animals and helicopters to successfully complete their mission. One of the kingpin of poaching gangs, Hugo Ras and nine of his members were arrested in 2014 for poaching crimes in South Africa.

weapons and dangers
Habitatadvocate.com.au

14. Weapons and Dangers

Since 2012, hundreds of Kenya Wildlife Service rangers have been shot by poachers resulting in 13 fatalities. In Virguna region, more than 150 rangers have been killed since 2004. Because of the violent confrontations that take place with poachers, rangers are usually armed with AK-101 assault rifle, night vision goggles and helicopters.