Over late September and early October, Honeyguide Foundation welcomed an American security specialist to train rangers in the Enduimet WMA, Burunge WMA, and in Manyara Ranch. With support provided by a private donor, the specialist spent 16 days leading the capacity-building exercises for some 30 rangers.
“We learned so much,” said Kateto Kashe, a Honeyguide field officer. “We advanced our knowledge of what we need to know to work with communities and protect wildlife.”
The American runs his own conservation-focused security firm, World Wildlife Defense Service, based in the United States. Working with such an international expert also boosted the confidence and skill base of the rangers among the fledgling community conservation areas. Few WMA rangers nationwide in Tanzania receive such high-level instruction.
An American, Paige Hammer, from Boulder, Colorado, generously donated funds for the training seminars. Big Life Foundation provides tremendous support for many of the rangers from Burunge and Enduimet, and also remains Honeyguide’s primary partner. Honeyguide also partnered with the African Wildlife Foundation earlier this year to provide strategic support for rangers in Manyara Ranch.
“The rangers lacked some tactical training, but they were all very willing to learn,” said the specialist. “Working in Tanzania and with Honeyguide was an excellent experience and one I hope to repeat!”
