Murchison Falls National Park - Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2024

Rangers are Africa’s unsung heroes. They hold diverse roles as conservationists, teachers, community support workers, leaders and much more.

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge, organised by Tusk, is a celebration of solidarity, connection and camaraderie for the ranger profession. Culminating on 21st September 2024, the campaign raises vital funds for Africa's biodiversity guardians.

Murchison Falls National Park's business model is based on tourism revenue, which through and after COVID disappeared leaving UWA unable to fulfil their mandate of protecting wildlife, habitat and biodiversity across Uganda. Compounded by the flooding of the River Nile and Lakes Edward and George, which in turn collapsed fisheries and flooded agricultural lands - with crops failing season after season. Logistics and operational in parks ground to a halt with UWA unable to cross the Nile, with the jetty 2.5m underwater.

The WRC provided the opportunity to keep patrol cars, bikes and boats maintained and moving, for anti-poaching, problem animal control / HWC mitigation, veterinary responses to lions, elephants and giraffe in snares. The fund also provided monthly food for rangers and paid for community scouts to help clear snares from the park on a daily basis.. This is critical as UWA is operating with less than 1/4th of the number of rangers required.

2024 focuses on the scouts and their ability to continue to contribute to the protection of the parks and focus on the maintenance of ranger posts and boats post COVID

Join us in speaking up #ForWildlifeRangers