Brave protectors of the wild frontiers
The work of courageous game rangers comes under the spotlight at Africa’s 2020 Rhino Conservation Awards
ASKED by his family to quit his job following regular encounters with heavily armed guerrillas, a Ugandan field ranger reckons this is not an option.
Samuel Loware’s work in Kidepo Valley National Park – a wild frontier region bordering on South Sudan – has seen him shortlisted as a finalist in Africa’s 2020 Rhino Conservation Awards, alongside 11 others.
This year’s awards coincide with World Ranger Day on July 31.
Organised by the Game Rangers Association of Africa (Graa), the awards are split into four categories: best field ranger, best game ranger, best conservation practitioner and best conservation supporter.
The awards “pay tribute to the exceptional courage of those who are fighting, often putting their own lives at risk, to give hope to our children and to enable the species under threat today to continue to contribute to the diversity of nature”, said Prince Albert II of Monaco, a patron of the Rhino Conservation Awards.
In Uganda’s Kidepo Valley, Loware has become something of a legend, according to the Guardian newspaper’s global environment editor, Jonathan Watts.
In a 2018 article, Watts said countless desperate people in neighbouring Sudan were taking their AK47 and Kalashnikov guns on raids across the border, terrorising villagers, hunting antelopes, zebras, buffaloes and other animals for meat, or killing elephants and ostriches on behalf of Chinese ivory and bone-marrow smugglers.
Watts describes how Loware was once shot alongside a villager while tracking a poacher trying to flee back over the border with contraband meat.
As the two pursuers approached a gully, the poacher opened fire from behind a tree. One shot passed through the chest of the villager, killing him instantly, and into the body of Loware.
He had to be driven several hours to a hospital where X-rays enabled a surgeon to cut out the bullet, lodged four inches down his back.
On another mission, Loware saw his commander killed in a gun battle with Sudanese poachers.
But such incidents have not deterred Loware, said Watts. Unlike Sundanese poachers – mostly teenagers who have spent their lives in war zones with no education or concept of conservation – Loware was raised to believe in wildlife protection as a necessity and an opportunity.
He continues to play a key role in human-wildlife conflict resolution, showing “even the most hostile communities the value of parks and the wildlife in them”, said Graa chief executive Andrew Campbell.
Up against Loware in the field ranger category are Julius Kaputo, who works in Lower Zambezi National Park, and Losas Lenamunyi, who works for Northern Rangelands Trust in Kenya.
The shortlisted finalists in best game ranger category are Albert Smith and Don English, both working for Sanparks in the Kruger National Park, and Benson Kanyembo, a law enforcement adviser to Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife.
Kanyembo leads a team of scouts in the South Luangwa National Park. Last year they were responsible for the arrest of 76 poachers and illegal traders and the confiscation of 400kgs of ivory. He also leads anti-snaring programmes without which nearly all wildlife in the park would have declined severely, reads his citation.
More than 600km south, in the vast Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe, Lynne Taylor’s work in supporting rangers has seen her shortlisted as a finalist in the best conservation supporter category.
Taylor directs the Tashinga Initiative Trust which provides essential support to rangers, often at great risk.
This has included boosting the supplies of anti-poaching equipment, the installation of multiple solarpowered water pumps, and VHF radio connectivity and VSAT for the internet to enable real-time response across the region.
Taylor has also introduced vegetable gardens and supported rangers’ children’s education, “instilling a sense of pride and common purpose among the ranger community”, reads her citation.
Other finalists in best conservation supporter category are Sanparks’ Environmental Crime and Corporate Investigations Unit for combating organised wildlife crime syndicates, and environmental group WWF-SA Wildlife Programme for work in conserving rhinos and other endangered wildlife.
In best conservation practitioner category, South Africa’s Green Scorpions are in the running for an award, alongside Marula South (IPZ) Rangers in the Kruger National Park (KNP), and the Sanparks KNP Air-wing.
The Green Scorpions have been particularly effective in the Eastern Cape, focusing mainly on illegal hunting, whether by dogs or organised crime syndicates, and on smuggling of plants, especially cycads and succulents.
“Their efforts saw the jailing of a main cycad syndicate leader in 2019 for 18 years and other cycad smugglers receiving prison sentences, too. The illegal cycad trade has now almost completely stopped in the province,” said Campbell.
“Each organisation and individual that has been shortlisted has contributed in some way to a conservation success story, allowing species to flourish in their natural environments.”
● The winners of each category will be announced across Rhino Conservation Award’s social media platforms and www.rovingreporters.co.za over the course of World Ranger Day.
Q: IN the past few years my family and I were doing well. However, in the last few months I have become paranoid because of Covid-19. What can I do? | JJ Singh
A: Whether one is able to acknowledge it or not, auspicious opportunities very often present themselves when we need it the most. And this is one that I personally have been waiting for.
Do the following tomorrow to help remove your fear and anxiety.
After 20 years, Somavati Amavasya (no moon) will occur tomorrow, July 20, during the month of Sawan.
Astrologically, the moon,
Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn will be in their respective zodiac signs. Despite all we have faced recently, this is a very beneficial situation to please Lord Shiva more easily. So, I urge all to make the most of this opportunity that is appearing after decades in astrological calculations to indulge in prayer and chant the following powerful mantra for enhancing our immunity.
The “Mahamritunjaya” mantra: “Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sungandhim Pustivardhanam Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor
Muskshiya Maamritat.” This mantra, if chanted with dedication, will create a protective shield around your aura which is so needed during this time.
Amavasya is the day of no moon in the Hindu calendar. It is the darkest day of the month and holds a significant importance in our religion. Many people observe a fast on this day.
Somvati amavasya, when there is no moon, falls on a Monday. It is a rare occurrence and is considered to be a highly auspicious day.
According to the probability theory of astrology, the occurrence of Amavasya on Monday can occur once or twice a year. But now we are particularly fortunate as it falls on a Monday in the month of Sawan.
It is recommended that the worship of any form of god as per your faith and religion on Amavasya gives immense benefits.
The dark night of Amavasya gradually changes into a pleasant, bright morning. Similarly, the dark phase or struggles of your life will result in a bright and happy future.
This day signifies that after every dark phase comes the ray of light. All the pain and grief one goes through will also come to an end.
If your circumstances permit try to do the following:
1. Observe Maun (silence) or speak as little as possible on this day. At a minimum, avoid gossips. Do not speak lies. In your mind, a few times send the message to the universe that you are full of happiness, you are healthy, you are part of the divine being, you are very fortunate, your loved ones are very healthy and happy, you are a powerful soul, you are constantly protective, you are of the highest mental capacity, you are filled with peace, joy and love.
2. The peepal tree (also known as the sacred fig tree) is revered as a sacred tree. People should tie a sacred thread around the tree’s trunk 108 times. This way, a parikrama (circling) of 108 times is done.
Try to perform seven Parikrama at the least. The peepal tree is considered as a symbol of the trinity (Brahma,vishnu and Mahesh).
3. An offering of a little bit of milk at the base of the peepal tree is good to do on this day.
4. Devote maximum time in Japa and meditation. Chant the powerful mantra Om Namah Shivaya for an hour at least.
5. Fasting is recommended for the whole day.
6. It is considered auspicious to donate things. Astrologically, any white object or white food such as rice, curd, sugar, milk, etc. can be donated to the poor on this day.
7. Many perform 108 circumambulations of Tulsi.
8. Any unfulfilled or outstanding ancestor’s prayer can be fulfilled.
9. Start sowing any kind of plant.
This day comes once a year on average and is an incredible opportunity for us to try to build an aura of protection around us by doing more prayer and spiritual activities. It is very important right now. The ability to utilise opportunities appropriately shows real intelligence.
Happy Somvati Amavasya.