As we settle into 2024 and leave the holiday season behind us, we cannot help but take a moment to reflect on the remarkable milestones and successes we accomplished last year.
Entering 2023, our goals were set high, fuelled by a collective vision to accelerate the impact of African-driven conservation. The previous two years had been exceptionally challenging on a global scale, with our sector, in particular, bearing the brunt of adversities marked by large declines in tourism, reductions in operational budgets, and job redundancies.
Navigating the post-pandemic environment was not easy, but as an organisation, we found a renewed strength and adaptability in our partners that propelled us forward, allowing us to continue providing efficient solutions for funding wildlife conservation programmes.
As we tread the path ahead, we carry these invaluable lessons, solidifying our commitment to ensure that Africa becomes a continent where people and wildlife can not only co-exist but thrive.
Below, we have selected a few highlights that shaped 2023 into a year brimming with extraordinary achievements and enduring conservation wins. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our supporters, whose contributions have had a profound impact on Tusk’s projects, making 2023 one of the most transformative years yet.
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge (WRC) connects thousands of rangers from 24 African nations with thousands of supporters from more than 90 countries around the world — uniting the global north and the global south in a common cause: raising vital funds for frontline conservation efforts, driving awareness of the importance of the rangering profession and communicating the challenges that rangers face. Once again, the Scheinberg Relief Fund generously committed $1 million in matched funds in support of rangers most in need. Thanks to their support the initiative has raised $16m since inception.
On 16 September 2023, more than 1,500 rangers from 103 teams spanning the diverse and varied terrains of Africa’s protected areas competed in a coordinated 21km race across their respective landscapes. Carrying 22kg of kit.
For the first time, select teams gathered at different locations in Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, and Uganda for regional ‘hub events’, allowing ranger teams to compete directly with their regional counterparts.
The top three teams at the WRC23 were:
- African People & Wildlife — Tarangire National Park — Tarangire Ecosystem Team (A) — Tanzania — 2:01:25
- African People & Wildlife — Tarangire National Park — Tarangire Ecosystem Team (B) — Tanzania — 2:04:26
- Gonarezhou National Park — Gonarezhou Conservation Trust Team — Zimbabwe — 2:20:07
Tusk Conservation Awards
Founded by the Prince of Wales in 2013, the Tusk Conservation Awards in partnership with Ninety One, recognise dedicated, forward-thinking individuals with inspirational stories. For over a decade, the Awards have served as a platform for Africa’s leading conservationists. These guardians of biodiversity have since risen to the top of their fields, scaling their work and amplifying conservation impact across the continent.
2023’s winners were as follows:
- Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa, sponsored by Ninety One: Fanny Minesi, General Director at the Amis des Bonobo du Congo (ABC) — Friends of Bonobos of Congo.
- The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, sponsored by Defender: Ekwoge Abwe, Co-hub leader and program manager at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and President of the Cameroon Biodiversity Association.
- Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, sponsored by the Nick Maughan Foundation: Jealous Mpofu, Chief Tracker at Painted Dog Conservation.
Looking ahead to 2024
In 2024, we welcome our new CEO, Nick Bubb and look forward to building on last year’s highlights as we continue to accelerate Tusk’s conservation impact across Africa.
Our vision is to continue to raise the profile of African conservation leaders, convene field leaders and influencers, foster collaboration between the African conservation community, work to reshape the conservation narrative, build recognition for the value of wildlife rangers and continue to forge a brighter future for threatened species and habitats.
