Suleiman Saidu, a Nigeria senior game guard ranger from Yankari National Park was honoured at the 2019 African Rangers Award in Accra on Friday.
Saidu was honoured along with 49 other rangers working in 17 countries across Africa. Six rangers were recognised posthumously after they died in the line of duty.
READ ALSO: Wildlife defender, Dr. Ehi-Ebewele posthumously honoured at CoP18
This is the second annual Awards, which will be given annually for 10 years by the Paradise International Foundation, a Chinese not-for-profit environmental conservation organisation, and the Alibaba Foundation, a charitable organisation established by Alibaba Group.
The Paradise International Foundation was set up by Jack Ma and other Chinese entrepreneurs, artists and philanthropists. It works to preserve the planet through charitable actions, a scientific approach, and efficient business management.
“The difference between us and you is that we protect ourselves first then we talk about protecting the Earth,” Ma said.
“Rangers face danger to protect wildlife; you are different. You are the real heroes.
“Today there are only two places most kids go to see animals: zoos, to see animals in cages, and museums, to see animals that are already lost.
“I hope that in the future our kids don’t only know animals through books. Protecting animals is not just the responsibility of rangers, it’s the responsibility of everyone.”
Clare Akamanzi, Executive Director and CEO of the Rwanda Development Board; M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International; and Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of African Leadership Group, attended and addressed the event.
Dozens of nominees from 17 countries were suggested by colleagues, employers, government agencies, or tourism partners. A panel of conservation leaders including Irene Amoke, Executive Director of the Kenya Wildlife Trust; Dr Max Graham, CEO of Space for Giants; and Matthew A. Brown, Africa Director of The Nature Conservancy, selected the winning list.
Many of the winners have been injured or faced significant danger in confrontations with wildlife criminals. Each received a $3,000 cash prize, given to family in the cases of fallen rangers.
Four in five African rangers had faced mortal danger at work, and three in five had been directly attacked by poachers, a 2016 survey found. More than 1,000 lost their lives protecting wildlife and wild habitats between 2000 and 2016.
“To be a park ranger is a dangerous job but we can’t leave our wild animals without protection because it can cause the extinction of all animals all over the world,” said Leonidas Mpumuje, Head Rhino Monitor working with African Parks at Akagera National Park in Rwanda, and one of the winners.
Mirriam Namushi is one of Africa’s growing number of women rangers, and one of the few to reach a very senior position — Area Warden — at one of the continent’s largest conservation areas, the 22,400 sq. km Kafue National Park in Zambia.
“We women are few in conservation at the moment, but the few that we are, I think we are doing a better job than men,” Namushi said.
“We take the job more seriously, and when it comes to corruption, there is less. We are more dedicated to our work.”
Lijun Sun, Partner of Alibaba Group and Chairman of the Alibaba Foundation, said that protecting Earth’s natural resources is one of Alibaba Foundation’s core missions.
“Alibaba leverages its technologies and experience in creating impact through public engagement such as the Ant Forest app, to lead efforts in environmental protection and conservation,” he said.
“Alibaba is willing to work with responsible companies and environmentalists to take advantage of their respective platforms and technologies to jointly resist illegal poaching, promote public awareness of environmental protection, and empower environmental protection.”
The Paradise International Foundation and Alibaba Foundation are sponsoring in full both the cash rewards for the rangers and the programme’s management expenses for the next 10 years, expected to be $1.5 million in total.
“The challenges to protected areas are changing and increasing and there has never been more of a need for park rangers,” said Shawn Zhang, CEO of the Paradise International Foundation.
“They are soldiers fighting courageously with insufficient support, they lack basic supplies like boots, socks, tents and GPS. They are husbands and wives and parents, they are heroes risking their lives for conservation.”
Africa is home to the richest diversity of wildlife in the world, including more than 1,000 species of mammals, 500 kinds of birds and 2,000 types of freshwater fish. Poverty, bushmeat hunting, the illegal wildlife trade pose serious threats to the continent’s bio-sustainability.
Five hundred rangers will be recognised through the 10-year programme. The Foundation hopes that the African Ranger Awards will continue to raise public awareness of the importance of safeguarding Africa’s diverse wildlife and creating sustainable development.
