Anti-poaching Training
From Game Guards to Rangers
In an intensive training program that ran from July 9th to 17th 2024, six dedicated community game guards from the //Gamaseb Conservancy underwent an antipoaching training program led by the Namibian Wildlife Protection Services. The program, which brought together participants from across Namibia, transformed their skills, and their approach to conservation work.
The training covered essential ranger skills including radio communication, tactical operations, survival skills, and physical fitness. “Everything we did was tough,” recalls one of the participants. “Every day it was full.”
The physical demands were particularly challenging in the early days.The group’s determination showed in their impressive physical achievements. During a 2.4km fitness test, they completed the run in 9 minutes and 37 seconds – well under the required 12-minute mark!
What started as individual efforts soon transformed into strong teamwork. “Everyone wanted to prove themselves but then we started to work as a team,” explains one participant. “We started motivating each other – translating for each other – doing our level best at every training.”
The program covered crucial tactical skills including patrol formations, surveillance techniques, field operations, and information gathering. They also learned about secure radio communications and how to maintain focus during extended patrols.
The training team left a lasting impression on the participants. Their motivational approach and body language kept the team engaged and inspired. “We really got attached to those two guys,” one ranger reminisces. “We want to go back again!“
While the game guards have completed the training, received certificates and gained their community’s respect, limited funding constrains their ability to fully implement their new skills. “We don’t want to sleep with our skills on the pillow every night,” one ranger expresses passionately. “We want to get on the field to show people what we have learned.”
“Since we came back from the training - we are qualified rangers now - not only game guards- it makes us feel good. But what we want… is to explore more in the field about what we have learned. But because of the [lack of] funds, it doesn’t allow us to do all this stuff that we learned at training.”
Despite these challenges, the rangers remain grateful for the opportunity. “To take the risk to send us over there for training even though they didn’t know if we would make it, to have qualified rangers, we are really grateful for that. We would like to do more!”
Making an Impact
The recent anti-poaching training has laid the groundwork for the potential of full-time employment opportunities.
Our team of game guards from //Gamaseb Conservancy performed exceptionally well during the training, leading the facilitators to provide training to four game guards from southern Namibian conservancies at no cost. The facilitator spoke to the potential of hiring these game guards as rangers for his company.
From the initial grant from the PAW Foundation, 8% was allocated to the anti-poaching component. It’s noteworthy that this amount covered 10 days of in-field anti-poaching training for six game guards, and now an additional four guards will receive training, potentially leading to full-time employment.
The impact of this funding is far-reaching, significantly improving the lives of families in Southern Namibia and creating new opportunities for Southern Namibians to enter the ranger field, a space where they have historically been overlooked for employment.
While we’ve made significant strides with the available funds, we are still facing a USD 7,000 shortfall to fully realize this project’s potential.
Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to our goal.
To support this initiative or to learn more about how you can contribute to this transformative program, please email andreia@orkca.org.