Tashinga Initiative - Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2023
Tashinga Initiative is taking on the Wildlife Ranger Challenge to raise awareness of the vital role our 38 rangers play in protecting Zimbabwe's Hurungwe Safari Area, and supporting an estimated 190 livelihoods.
Hurungwe – Zimbabwe
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.
Rangers based in Tashinga Initiative - Hurungwe Safari Area (2,894 sq km) form part of the patrol effort across the unique landscape that makes up the Zambezi Valley’s 12,820 sq km of wildlife protected areas. Rangers protect territorial integrity, undertake biological monitoring, conservation management, community relations and manage equipment, resources and tourism.
WRC Grants have significantly supported a total of 245 ZimParks Rangers. The resultant WRC Grants for Rangers in LZV addressed
- food security through the provision of monthly dry food hampers,
- the provision of ranger patrol kit such as backpacks and boots,
- the maintenance of daily field-based and law enforcement operations, thus enhancing morale and efficacy.
For WRC 2023, your support to the Hurungwe ZimParks Rangers could be far-reaching: to continue providing
- monthly, all-important patrol food hampers,
- to ensure that Rangers are operationalised with appropriate and essential patrol kit,
- that vehicles and boats patrol the 2,894 sq. km need fuel each month and of course, Rangers’ morale is strengthened through the provision of life insurance cover.
Give today and the Scheinberg Relief Fund will match every dollar donated, amplifying your impact. Join us in speaking up #ForWildlifeRangers
Team Hurungwe took second place in the Zimparks Teams in Mid-Zambezi and wrapping up WRC 2023!
Sep 28, 2023, 5:50:13 AMWe had the a great marathon, each carrying our 22kg backpack, managing to chant and sing along the way, and got a time of 02:45:33. We had great support from ZimParks, some passers-by, friends and of course from Tashinga Initiative Support Team Gidion who handed us refreshments along the way, kept the traffic at bay (our main field base is on a main road) and this was followed by great celebrations and a luncheon! We can't wait for WRC 2024!
Backpack weigh-in done and everything is ready for the 21km!
Sep 16, 2023, 6:52:39 AMBackpacks were packed to weigh in total 22kg in preparation for the 21km marathon Saturday 16th! We're reached this far and are going to give it our all!
SitUp Challenge done!
Sep 5, 2023, 7:47:01 PMIt was more than a miracle to get 4 team members together in one location today to get the Situp Challenge underway, and photographs and videos taken. Great comraderie and enjoyment in being part of WRC 2023! Here we are at Chimutsi Gate, enjoying our time as a team, and getting those core muscles into keen action!
Training and meeting extraordinary and adventurous travellers along the way
Aug 29, 2023, 6:41:43 AMTeam Hurungwe, during their training session, met with two intrepid cycling tourists travelling through the rugged Zambezi Valley! I bet they were all pleased to meet each other and talk about Wildlife Ranger Challenge!
21km Time Trial undertaken by Team Hurungwe!
Aug 29, 2023, 6:39:49 AMThis Team had to go to extraordinary lengths to be together for this time trial, being scattered all over Hurungwe Safari Area, but they did it, and carried out an excellent execution of the 21km time trial, carrying 22kg backpacks! In the rough terrain of the Zambezi Valley, this was all about grit and determination!
Public awareness for Wildlife Ranger Challenge at Hurungwe
Aug 20, 2023, 10:53:39 AMIt was great to see the WRC banners proudly displayed at the very busy Marongora Hq Field Station, Hurungwe Safari Area. Lets hope these bring more awareness to this amazing programme #ForWildlifeRangers
PUSHUP CHALLENGE WEEK!
Aug 9, 2023, 5:02:57 PMDespite Team Hurungwe members being in different locations, due to the immense size of Hurungwe Safari Area, and out on patrol, this team have worked extraordinarily hard to deliver the PUSHUP results, training really hard and sending videos from many different locations.
Team training and team kit deliveries by Tashinga Initiative
Jun 18, 2023, 11:40:37 AMTashinga Initiative undertook a Lower Zambezi Valley wide visit to 5 of 6 Wildlife Ranger Teams, Hurungwe, Chirundu Task Force, Dande Antipoaching Unit, Dande-Mbire and Chewore South WRC 23 Teams between 9th and 17th June 2023, travelling 1,440kms on this journey. It was invigorating to meet up with Team Hurungwe who are well underway with their training, and our formal training programme starts on 26th June! TI Trainer Neil had excellent interaction with Team Hurungwe members who could be present specifically demonstrating the correct Pushup and correct Situp for WRC 2023.
Team Preparations underway!
May 17, 2023, 11:17:45 AMWildlife Ranger Challenge TEAM HURUNGWE has committed to Widllife Ranger Challenge 2023 and forms part of the ZimParks Lower Zambezi Valley WRC teams! Well done Team HURUNGWE in taking on and committing to the gruelling 21km marathon, in the extreme heat of the Zambezi Valley, whilst carrying 22kg backpacks! We want to support you all the way and see you reach your team and personal goals! We are fundraising for Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2023 as well to ensure each HURUNGWE team member has boots to train in, running shorts, a backpack, T-shirts and a cap, and for RACE DAY on 16th SEPTEMBER that the team has banners, and a chance to celebrate their effort with a chicken and sadza lunch and cooldrink afterwards! Please support us!
Support a unique conservation initiative empowering and uniting wildlife rangers across Africa.
May 3, 2023, 2:50:00 PMWildlife rangers operate on the very frontline of conservation across Africa, routinely making personal sacrifices to put their lives on the line to protect the continent’s magnificent wildlife and habitats. Yet they are so much more than just law enforcement officers: rangers are teachers, community support workers, mediators, researchers and so much more. Unfortunately, resources are not keeping pace with the scale of the challenges they are trying to tackle. For the fourth year running, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge sets out to redress this, by raising critical funding to cover operating costs, including salaries and equipment, for over 10,000 rangers. This will help them protect threatened wildlife and some of the continent's most vulnerable areas, while also protecting communities and securing coexistence with wildlife, as well as providing for their own families.
