Project Ranger

  The COVID-19 pandemic’s ripple effects have been broad; leaving virtually no industry, economy, or continent immune. As travel and tourism was brought to a standstill in Africa, many wilderness areas have been left vacant and workers left with the uncertainty of personal income. This “perfect storm” of conditions has left many endangered animals highly vulnerable to wildlife crime.

In response to these devastating effects on conservation in Africa Project Ranger was launched via The Great Plains Foundation. Project Ranger is filling a critical gap in the wildlife monitoring, surveying, and anti-poaching operations of existing NGO’s in Africa through an emergency fund supporting those on the front-lines of conservation. Contributions from private individuals, foundations, and corporate partners are supplementing budget deficits with local ground partners by funding salaries, training, and operations of wildlife monitors, rangers and anti-poaching personnel.

In less than a year since its founding, Project Ranger has distributed significant funding across seven countries in Africa…and it’s just getting started. Project Ranger has funded a wide variety of effective conservation interventions ranging from equine and dog ranger patrols in South Africa, to aerial surveying and monitoring of rhinos in Botswana, to conservation patrols in Kenya and Tanzania. While the approaches vary, the mission and objective is the same: to safeguard Africa’s wild places and protect the livelihoods of those on the frontlines of conservation. 

The African Lion, Panthera leo, is currently considered vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the last 50 years 95% of the Lion population has disappeared, and they have become extinct in 15 African countries. The current number of mature individuals in the wild is declining less than 20 000. The Lion is mainly found in parts of Central and Southern Africa, and as far north as Chad, but their distribution across Africa is scattered and low in territory. Only 7 countries have a decent population over 1000. They are particularly vulnerable to trophy hunting of male lions of which there are an estimate of 3000 left, and yet they are still allowed to be hunted at a rate of 600 a year. Another reason for their decline is indiscriminate killing (either as a preventative measure, or as retaliation killings by humans) Lions are also poached for their bones and body part used in traditional medicine, and although there is no History of Lion body parts being used in Chinese medicine, they have begun to trade in Lion bones to make wine. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the loss of tourism had a negative effect on the economy, resulting in locals setting traps to capture wildlife, and sell them for bushmeat.

The Temminck's Pangolin, Smutsia temminckii, is currently considered vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The current number of mature individuals in the wild is decreasing however there are no recorded numbers since they were last assessed in 2019. They are found in the Eastern and Southern regions of Africa. The Temminck's Pangolin is protected in all regions that it resides in, however its numbers are rapidly declining due to the illegal poaching for their body parts. Pangolins are one of the most trafficked animals in the world.

The African Elephant, Loxodonta africana, is currently considered vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The current numbers are estimated to be below 400 000 compare the 3 million a hundred years ago. The African Elephant is mainly found in parts of Central and Southern Africa, and as far north as Mali and Chad, but their distribution across Africa is scattered and low in territory. 30,000 elephants are killed per year on average, for their tusks, each year.

Poaching is the largest threat to the African Elephant, for Ivory. They are also highly vulnerable to habitat loss, caused by human population expansion and in particular human wildlife conflict and land conversion.

The Leopard, Panthera pardus, is currently considered vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The latest estimate on leopards is under 50 000. The Leopard once raged across the whole of West, East, and Southern Africa, as well as the southern regions of Asia. They are now scattered across the regions of Africa that they were once part of, and very little of them remain in Asia. They are threatened by habitat loss, reduced prey, and trophy hunting. Leopard skins are used in traditional ceremonies in eastern cultures of Asia and Africa, and other parts are used for a traditional medicine. Trophy hunting has a devasting impact on leopards with over a thousand animals imported into the USA alone per year. Leopards have lost 75% of their natural historic range. 

The White Rhino, Ceratotherium simum, is currently considered near threatened according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The current number of mature individuals in the wild is declining and sits at around 10,108 since they were last assessed in January 2020. The White Rhino is extinct in the regions of Central Africa where it was once prominent. It has been reintroduced into parts of Southern Africa, such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and is still residing in South Africa. The main threat to the White Rhino is poaching, for their horns. Rhino horn has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The Covid-19 Pandemic caused a halt on the tourism industry, resulting in a lack of funding for the anti-poaching units. Great Plains Foundation recently is assisting funding for rangers in the field, called Project Ranger.

The Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, is currently considered vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the last 100 years 90% of the Cheetah population has disappeared. The current number of mature individuals in the wild is declining and sits at around 6,674 since they were last assessed in 2014. The cheetah is mainly found in parts of Southern Africa, as well as the Sahara, Iran and parts of Ethiopia. They are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss. Live trade in Cheetahs has been seen as the cause for a majority of their disappearance. Cheetah are traded illegally into the pet trade as well as hunted for their fur. Habitat loss is probably the biggest threat to these animals that require vast areas for their survival.

"We’re close to that $1M threshold now thanks to a new grant from the National Geographic Society and going through the process of getting this out as quickly as possibly, because this is an emergency intervention and fund. It’s a race against time, as these highly organized crime syndicates take advantage of this global lockdown to carry out their crimes without the high risk of being caught. Our job is to increase their risk, by supporting rangers, while we decrease the reward but blocking off trade routes. We hope you can join us in our efforts." - Dereck and Beverly Joubert