Dedicated rangers worldwide face risks of serious injury and deaths due to attacks by poachers and wild animals. In most cases, the rangers lack the essential training needed to carry out their jobs properly and administer first aid in cases of injuries or attacks.
In keeping with its efforts to stem wildlife trafficking, AGA-Africa collaborated with Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance (WITA) and the Department of National Parks & Wildlife (DPNW), Malawi on an illuminating workshop themed ‘Operation Safe Ranger’ held on 2nd-3rd June 2022, 6th-7th June 2022 and 9th-10th June 2022, respectively.
The training offered a platform for discussions that enhanced the participants’ techniques and critical skills that could save game ranger lives and promote community relations in and around protected areas. The workshop covered both practical exercises and classroom lessons on topics such as how to stop bleeding, CPR, trauma, snakebite, water and environmental emergencies. Over 230 rangers improved their first aid and ranger safety tactics while developing methods to survive physical confrontations and de-escalate volatile situations.
The workshops were officially opened by Gift Chikwakwa, AGA-Africa Coordinator for Malawi, with a keynote address from Brighton Kumchedwa, Director of the Department of National Parks & Wildlife Malawi.
The workshop was facilitated by subject matter experts: Shawn Karns, Executive Director, Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance, Stephanie Durno Karns, Director of Operations, Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance, and Ndaona Kumanga of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.
The workshops were officially closed by Gift Chikwakwa AGA-Africa Country Coordinator for Malawi and Brighton Kumchedwa Director of the Department of National Parks & Wildlife, Malawi.
