At the end of 2018, we finished our second month mentorship and training in the Dzanga Sangha Protected Area in the Central African Republic. This area is home to the majestic Forest Elephant, Lowland Gorilla, Chimpanzee and a host of other amazing creatures which are invaluable to this ecological area.

Our trainers, Nigel Kuhn and Yoann Galeran spent a month in the jungle with 26 men of the EcoGuards teaching advanced tactics techniques and procedures ((TTP’s) and ensuring these were instilled into their new operating procedures during live anti poaching operations. At the same time,our detection dogs Mitch and Bobby settled into their new home with the help of their trainer Erik Groenendijk who introduced them to their new Central African trainers who will use them in the operations.

In addition to Nigel and Yoann training and mentoring rangers, Dr. Odean Serrano, Franck Cunniet and I worked with the management and support team on the development of strategic and operations plans, command and control, logistics support and doctrine.

And you will be happy to know that our team In the Central African Republic has made 18 arrests on their first patrol after the training!

Your support allowed these arrests to happen. Chengeta and the rangers couldn’t do what they do without you.

A number of those arrests have been linked to ivory poaching. Commercial bushmeat poaching has also been an ongoing issue in the area and makes up a large percentage of the suspects apprehended by the team.

Our CAR team will continue working as part of the local community and it is our misson that one day poaching will be something in the past. But in the meantime, the rangers must continue the hard and dangerous job of defending these areas and their wildlife populations.

Written by Rory Young