| Grantee | Game Rangers International |
|---|---|
| Type | Protected Area Management |
| Grant Amount | $228,410 |
| Duration | 3 years |
Securing Predator Hotspots in the Kafue Ecosystem
Game Rangers International (GRI) provides support to law enforcement in the Game Management Areas (GMAs) to the east of Kafue National Park. The Kafue ecosystem is vast – 66,400 km2 with enormous potential for lion conservation. However, it is severely impacted by bushmeat poaching resulting in lions being far below their potential carrying capacity in the area. The LRF provided a grant to GRI to support two teams of rangers on the eastern side of Kafue National Park. Funding has also been provided to support intelligence led operations with the aim of keeping poachers and their weapons from entering the protected areas. The GMAs provide a buffer zone between communities and the national park, with Nkala GMA in particular having a high concentration of predators including lions. Therefore, securing this area is critical to the continued recovery and protection of lion populations both in the Park and the GMAs.