
31 Jul Happy World Ranger Day!

Today 31st July, we celebrate World Ranger Day dedicated to the rangers who are at the frontline of protecting wildlife and their habitats around the world.
World Ranger Day is an initiative of the International Ranger Federation to celebrate the work rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures, and commemorate those killed in the line of duty. Rangers endure harsh conditions and risk their lives every day to protect wildlife from poachers.
Uganda is home to half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas found in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks. At these two protected areas, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers and our team monitor all habituated gorilla groups every day. CTPH also trains rangers to conduct gorilla health monitoring. They monitor the gorillas’ general health, body shape, color and the texture of their fur, alertness, as well as any respiratory concerns. They also collect fecal samples from gorilla night nests of habituated groups that are analyzed at the Gorilla Health Centre.
The population numbers of mountain gorillas have almost doubled in the last 30 years thanks to the rangers that risk their lives to protect them everyday.


The Wildlife Ranger Challenge is back this year to raise funds to support wildlife rangers. CTPH has partnered with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks to participate again in this year’s challenge.
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge is a multi-million-pound fundraising initiative organized by Tusk, to support the male and female rangers from across Africa’s protected areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wildlife Rangers are stretched to capacity and continue to experience drastic cuts in resources and an increase in poaching due to the devastating economic impact of COVID-19. These Wildlife Rangers see no end in sight. Pressures on Africa’s protected areas threaten to compromise decades of development and conservation success.

Communities are struggling with the economic impacts of COVID-19, which is increasing their need to poach, while many conservation areas cannot maintain their work as revenues from tourism have disappeared. Last year on 1st June 2020, the lead silverback of Nkuringo Gorilla Group, Rafiki, was speared by a hungry and desperate poacher who was looking for duiker and bush pigs to eat and sell on the local market. To prevent such tragic incidences happening again, the rangers need more support to protect the gorillas by patrolling the park and monitoring their health.
On September 18th run or walk virtually alongside thousands of rangers from 20 African countries. Register to join the challenge.
We need to continue protecting the endangered mountain gorillas, please support rangers of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks with a donation https://www.
Thank you very much for your support.
Happy World Ranger Day!
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