Game Rangers International

Sport Beattie - CEO & Founder

Elephants at the Release Facility

Game Rangers International (GRI) is a Zambian non-profit organisation working to protect and conserve wildlife in Kafue National Park alongside the Department of National Parks an Wildlife (DNPW), as well as to disrupt and mitigate the illegal trade of wildlife products within Zambia and the sub-saharan region. It was established with initial, critical funding from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation in 2008 and they who continue to support them today.

GRI embraces a holistic approach to conservation. This is rooted in the belief that the key to sustainable, long term utilisation of Zambia’s natural wealth is best achieved by the active participation of its citizens in managing these vital eco-systems. These areas do not only contain a diversity of wildlife, they are also important cultural resources that provide opportunities for tourism, conservation education and research. In addition, they contribute to the socio-economic well-being of the surrounding local communities and Zambia as a whole.

GRI operates under the guidance of Sport Beattie, CEO, and works in strategic areas of conservation: law enforcement, anti-trafficking, community outreach and education, research and policy, park maintenance and animal welfare.

What Game Rangers International does

GRI - Kafue Conservation Project (KCP) - Provide training and operational support to wildlife personnel on the front line of endangered species protection

Implement community outreach and education programmes in the communities around Kafue National Park

GRI - Elephant Orphanage Project (EOP) - Rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing orphaned elephants back into the wild

GRI - Wildlife Crime Prevention Project (WCPP) - Promoting nationwide conservation through wildlife crime prevention initiatives

GRI - Wildlife Veterinary Project (WVP) - Rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife

GRI - Zambia Primate Project (ZPP) - Rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing back to the wild, injured, orphaned and illegally held vervet monkeys and baboons

How Olsen Animal Trust helps

GRI - General

Core funding to help the entire organisation with their running costs, particularly in areas such as marketing and accounting

GRI - Elephant Orphanage Project (EOP)

A Primary Project Partner providing ongoing substantial financial support towards the overall running of the operation and all activities

Contribution to staff costs

Financial support for the construction of a new Primate Transit Home including pre-release enclosures and quarantine facilities

Funding for the construction of electric fencing around the veterinary clinic and Primate Transit Home

Funding for construction of field accommodation for ZPP Project Manager

GRI - Zambia Primate Project (ZPP)

GRI - Kafue Conservation Project (KCP)

Co-sponsorship of the anti-poaching light aircraft

Contribution to field staff accommodation and offices

Enhancement of the Mukambi women’s group business initiative and mosquito nets

Law enforcement support

GRI - Wildlife Veterinary Project (WVP)

Sponsorship of the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned baby hippo “Jackie” until her eventual release back into the wild

Facilitation of dart gun to enable immediate immobilisation for safe and humane treatment of injured animals

Meet some of the characters

Cosmas Mumba, Manager of the Zambian Primate Project, featured here at the 2015 Tusk Conservation Awards in London. Nominated by our Founder, Sue Olsen, Cosmas was one of the top three finalists and he had the honour of meeting Tusk’s Royal Patron HRH Prince William. We are delighted that Cosmas was recognised for his 15 years of dedication to the welfare and conservation of primates in Zambia.

This is Cosmas at Mvula Camp, the primate release sight within Kafue National Park. This is where the primates spend the last stage of their rehabilitation programme before being released back into the wild.

A vervet monkey who was illegally tied to a tree as an exhibit, was rescued by Cosmas and is now being cared for by ZPP until he is ready for release. Dave, our OATOKE, assisted in the confiscation process and the monkey was named after Jeffrey Olsen, son of Sue & Jon Olsen and nephew of Dave.

Jeffrey the rescued vervet monkey

Cosmas at the primate release camp

Cosmas at the Tusk Conservation Awards

Anti-poaching scouts in training

Currently, rescued primates are treated and rehabilitated at Mundawanga Zoo in Lusaka. OAT are co-funding the development of primate transit homes and a quarantine facility on the edge of the Kafue National Park which will be a more suitable and practical facility for everyone involved in the project. Pictured here is Dave (OATOKE), lending a hand with the building process during one of his Zambian visits.

Hooks Bridge, home to a special anti-poaching team for Kafue National Park. GRI provide specialist training for the scouts who take great pride in their work and the significant role they play in conserving their country's wildlife.

SAPU - Special Anti-Poaching Unit

Anti-poaching scouts at Hooks Bridge

Building primate transit facilties

Jackie was rescued when she was just a few weeks old. She was found abandoned in the river and was taken into care by GRI’s Wildlife Veterinary Project. She is being intensively cared for at a temporary facility on the banks of the Zambezi river and OAT are sponsoring her care until she is old enough to be released.

Jackie is cared for 24/7 and is given the food and continuous companionship she requires. Her care is managed by a volunteer, who kindly donates her time and the use of her property to house Jackie and the carers, and Jackie's medical needs are met by GRI's wildlife vet, who works alongside a local government vet.

OAT have co-sponsored the purchase of an anti-poaching light aircraft together with the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. This will enable GRI to regularly survey the Kafue National park from the air and provide crucial information and support for the anti-poaching units on the ground.

Anti-poaching plane

Jackie being bottle-fed

Jackie the Hippo

Elephants and their keepers

Nursery for orphaned elephants

Release Facility for rehabilitated elephants

For further information on the work of Game Rangers International please visit www.gamerangersinternational.org