Draft:Wildlife Ranger Challenge

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge is a fundraising and awareness campaign that was launched in response to the COVID19 pandemic in 2020 with the aim of keeping wildlife rangers employed through the crisis. Even though the pandemic is behind us now, the now annual event has continued as a way to raise awareness about the challenges faced by wildlife rangers, particularly in Africa, and to continue to raise funds for their training, equipment and welfare.

History
For most national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, their main income source is tourism, which ground to a halt with the global travel bans and lockdowns of the COVID19 pandemic, leaving the parks with no funds to continue operations. The first Wildlife Ranger Challenge was organized by Tusk and the Game Rangers Association of Africa in response to the economic impact of the pandemic.

Format
The event primarily involves a series of physical and mental challenges that test the skills, endurance, and knowledge of wildlife rangers from various parts of the world. The Wildlife Ranger Challenge includes a variety of tasks that simulate real-life situations faced by rangers. These tasks often include :

1. Physical Endurance: Long-distance running, obstacle courses, and carrying heavy loads to mimic the physical demands of patrolling vast conservation areas.

2. Teamwork and Strategy: Exercises that require collaboration and strategic thinking, such as simulated rescue operations and tactical maneuvers.

3. Wildlife Knowledge: Tests on species identification, tracking skills, and knowledge of wildlife behavior and conservation practices.

The main event takes place typically in September, following a series of mini-challenges. It is a global event, meaning participants enter the race where they are, and using sports timing equipment, they are able to track and enter verifiable running times when they complete the race.

Funds raised
The event has garnered support from a range of notable organizations and individuals, including conservation NGOs, celebrities, and philanthropists. High-profile endorsements and partnerships have helped to amplify the reach and effectiveness of the challenge. Wildlife Ranger Challenge has raised over $16m since 2020, including a match from The Scheinberg Relief Fund.

Regional events
In Uganda, a local wildlife conservation organization, Uganda Conservation Foundation has been organizing a group event since 2020, bringing together teams from several Ugandan national parks, as well as supporters’ teams to run the race together in Murchison Falls National Park. Following the success of this initiative, similar hub events were organized last year by other organizations in Kenya, Zambia and South Africa.