RANGERS NEED YOUR SUPPORT AT UPEMBA NATIONAL PARK

WE ARE IN NEED OF YOUR SUPPORT TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR RANGERS TO CONTINUE PROTECT AND SAFEGUARD UPEMBA NATIONAL PARK IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.

At Upemba National Park, every day, rangers go on duty to carry out anti-poaching and anti-trafficking patrols, and are prepared to face heavily harmed poachers and rebels, while working with communities to raise awareness and mitigate wildlife conflicts.

Upemba National Park, located in the south east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and covering 11 730 km2, forms a diverse landscape that historically held in excess of 100,000 elephants and represented one of the richest biodiversity areas in the country. A protected area that once hosted significant populations of elephants, black rhinos, buffalos, lions, leopards, wild dogs, large herds of plains games including many endemic species.

Regrettably the wildlife has been significantly reduced due to heavy poaching for ivory and bushmeat that has gone unchecked in an environment of instability, with limited and inconsistent conservation protection.

Fortunately In 2017, ICCN (the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation) signed a 15-year contract with Forgotten Parks Foundation for Upemba’s management, rehabilitation and development. ICCN and their rangers toil to ensure the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in the network of Protected Areas of the DRC, in cooperation with local communities and other partners to contribute to the well-being of the Congolese people and all of humanity.

The process of rehabilitation of the park, although at an infant stage, has had promising results over the past three years, reducing poaching and wildlife trafficking, pushing armed rebels out and protecting the last savannah elephants in Katanga province as well as the last zebras in DRC.

With hard work and dedication, the population of zebras has multiplied from a dozen to about 200, and the population of elephants, also slowly growing, from 170 to more than 200.

This progress could not have been achieved without the hard work of our rangers, risking their lives every day to protect this vast area, while working in very difficult conditions, with limited vehicle, outdated radio systems, without all the necessary equipment, but with passion and determination to stop poaching and illegal activities, and to create a safe environment for wildlife and local communities, which they are all part of.

Sadly, the means to carry out these activities are limited and we are in need of fuel, rations, medical equipment and medical covers, to list a few. Basic equipment is essential for the rangers to effectively do their jobs.

In the line of duty to create a safe environment for members of communities where they all grew up in, protect and safeguard wildlife and the protected area, many wildlife rangers have tragically been killed or injured, leaving their families behind.

Working as a wildlife ranger in an environment of insecurity is already a huge challenge that is made arduous when the resources and equipment are limited.

We are raising money to cover park security activities, rations, fuel, repairs, medical support, and family support, to list a few.

To cover the fees for those mentioned above, we would need a minimum of $150 000 for three months. These funds will not be used for any lethal equipment such as weapons or ammunition but to cover basic necessities.

Our goal is to raise as much money as possible to help continue paying for equipment and rations and allow our rangers to continue their important work that plays a crucial part in saving the planet.

We might not all be at the front-facing all the danger, but we can empower them with financial support to carry out their hard work. Don’t sit back, fight with them.

Your contribution is highly appreciated and we thank you in advance!