Operation Safe Ranger Training with the Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Malawi

The safety of game rangers is paramount. Game rangers are on the frontlines in the war against transnational wildlife crime and are often confronted with life threatening situations.

To equip them with tools to enhance their safety as they protect Malawi’s wildlife, the AGA-Africa Programme and the Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance (WITA) partnered with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) on a practical workshop held on 8^th-9^th May, 2023 in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The participants were game rangers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife as well as international subject matter experts Shawn and Stephainie Karns from the United States.

The training sessions were aimed at exposing the participants to the global standard ranger safety practices such as first aid, recognizing nonverbal threat signals, de-escalation techniques and tactical situational control that can effectively save lives.

Gift Chikwakwa, AGA-Africa Programme Country Coordinator for Malawi, officially opened the event.  Brighton Kumchedwa, Director, Department of National Parks and Wildlife and John Edozie, International Advisor, AGA-Africa Programme speaking on behalf of Markus Green, Board Member, AGA-Africa Programme delivered keynote addresses.

The sessions, which included simulations of real life situations, were facilitated by Shawn Karns, Executive Director, Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance and Stephanie Karns, Director of Operations, Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance.

At the closing, Alex Chunga, Park Manager, Department of National Parks and Wildlife expressed gratitude on behalf of Brighton Kumchedwa, Director, Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

Gift Chikwakwa officially closed the training.

Workshop Outcomes

Through this workshop the participants:

1. Improved their knowledge and skills on the foundations of officer safety, non-verbals and officer wellness.
2. Enhanced their understanding on the critical skills needed for First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Trauma, Drowning and Environmental injuries to effectively save lives.
3. Equipped themselves with the right skills and methodologies required to conduct complicated wildlife trafficking investigations successfully and safely.