Kissama Foundation - Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2023
Kissama Foundation is taking on the Wildlife Ranger Challenge to raise awareness of the vital role our 25 rangers play in protecting Angola's Luando Strict Nature Reserve, and supporting an estimated 125 livelihoods.
My story
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 16th September 2023, the campaign raises vital funds for Africa's biodiversity guardians.
The most important outcome of the Kissama Foundation - Luando Strict Nature Reserve project has been the ability to maintain the ranger force in Luando Strict Nature Reserve operational and keep protecting the last five herds of sable. During 2022 the project was very active in Luando Reserve. Our main achievement was implementing a capture and collaring operation and surveys. During the collaring exercise in July we were able to dart twenty animals and deploy 18 GPS satellite collars, 15 on giant sable and three on roan antelope. These collars are allowing us to maintain daily monitoring.
The increase in poaching and related illegal activities specifically affecting the giant sable populations are the main issue that needs tackling. The most critical component will be to ensure salaries for a period of one year. We will use part of the WRC funding to support critical operating costs such as food and fuel, maintenance, communications, boots and uniforms. This support could enable us to keep the rangers fully operational, expand our presence in the park and protect the giant sable.
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May 2, 2023, 11:48:27 AMKissama Foundation is implementing several projects in Angola, including efforts aimed at environmental education and awareness, and developing or assisting biodiversity research on various faunistic groups. Nevertheless, the projects with more public visibility are the ones focusing on conservation of endangered species, namely three conservation projects on marine turtles, forest elephants and giant sable, respectively. The giant sable project aims at ensuring the recovery of the remaining populations of the critically endangered species, in the two protected areas where it occurs, Cangandala NP and Luando Reserve. Most of the current work focuses on the latter reserve, ensuring management of the area and the protection of this endangered species.
