PARADISE FOUNDATION HONORS AFRICAN RANGERS PROTECTING WILDLIFE  AUGUST 7, 2018

The Paradise Foundation, a Chinese conservation charity co-led by Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma, on Tuesday awarded grants to 50 African rangers working to protect wildlife on the continent.

The African Ranger Awards honored 50 rangers on the frontlines of conservation in 17 countries, giving each a $3,000 grant. There were 146 nominations from 21 countries in all. The award winners represent some of the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 rangers currently working in Africa.

The rangers often face significant danger in their work. A 2016 survey found 82% of African rangers had been at risk of death while on patrol, and 60% had been directly attacked by poachers. More than 1,000 of Africa’s rangers lost their lives protecting wildlife and wild habitats between 2000 and 2016.

“These rangers are sacrificing so much to protect Africa’s wildlife against illegal hunting and trading. With this award, we hope both to recognize their important work and to bring greater attention to the ways in which we can all contribute to protecting the natural world,” Jack said.

“These awards were not only set up to reward rangers, but also to alert more and more people to pay attention to rangers, and to the protection of wild animals and the natural environment,” he added.

 In July 2017, while on his first-ever trip to Africa, Ma announced that the Paradise Foundation would spearhead a 10-year, wildlife-conservation program on the continent. The program will include connecting Chinese charitable organizations and Africa’s nature reserves to support conservation efforts and fight back against poaching.

Over the next ten years, 500 rangers will be recognized through the program. The Paradise Foundation said that it hopes the African Ranger Awards will continue to raise public awareness around the issues of wildlife conservation and sustainable development.

“Compared to everything these rangers sacrifice, our contribution is small,” said Shawn Zhang, CEO of the Paradise Foundation. “We hope that these awards will show them our appreciation and draw attention to their important work.”