This past week four Lion Rangers were awarded for their tireless efforts and dedication to the cause of community-based lion conservation. At a ceremony held by Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in Opuwo, Rinoveni Tjauira, Kaidue Uaroua, Esau Matundu, and Ndjitjiuee Olga Karizemi were each presented with a plague, certificate, cash prize, and livestock as small tokens of recognition for their tireless efforts.
For three years running the Lion Rangers have recognized the top performing Rangers from the previous twelve months. Awards are based on Lion Rangers efforts in performing foot patrols in the field. Patrolling hard-to-reach areas on foot is the backbone of the Lion Rangers’ field work. This year the top performing Rangers set a new standard for areas covered on foot patrol.
For the second straight year, Rinoveni Tjauira (Omatendeka Conservancy/Namibian Lion Trust) was the top performing Lion Ranger. Over twelve months Tjauira walked an incredible 5,796 km on 326 separate foot patrols. From the Okondjou area, Tjauira takes responsibility over monitoring the Omukutu and Southern Anabeb prides in particular. Trusted by fellow Rangers and his community to keep farmers informed of lion movements, Tjauira takes particular pride in his ability to cover long distances on foot and maintains a complete knowledge of the individual lions and ranging patterns in his area.
For the third consecutive year, Kaidue Uaroua (Ehirovipuka Conservancy) placed in the top three performing Lion Rangers. This past year Kaidue walked 5,673 kms on 315 separate foot patrols. Kaidue is well-known for his marathon patrols – including multiple over 50 kms. Earlier this year he was also honored as a winner of the Grassroots Owen-Smith Community Ranger Awards, in Windhoek by the Namibian Chamber of Environment and NACSO. This prestigious award recognizes community members who have dedicated their lifetime to community-based wildlife conservation.
For the third consecutive year, Esau Matundu (Ehi-rovipuka Conservancy/TOSCO) placed among the top three performing Lion Rangers. Based at our Ombonde Research and Monitoring Camp, Matundu is among the newer Lion Rangers, but already one of the most well-respected and knowledgeable. Matundu first joined the program as a volunteer, helping to build then serve as caretaker for the Ombonde Camp. Since his promotion to Lion Ranger Matundu has set the standard for dedication to the program. In 2024 he walked 3,354 kms on 315 foot patrols. Additionally, Matundu has become a trusted member of our lion collaring teams – helping to safely immobilize and collar the desert-adapted lions for research and monitoring.
This year the Lion Rangers were pleased to recognize our Top Performing Female Ranger, and fourth highest overall, Ndjitjiuee Olga Karizemi (Orupupa Conservancy). Since joining the program in 2021, Karizemi has taken the lead among the female Rangers (currently five in total) to set a new standard for the role of women in field-based community conservation. A highly-skilled tracker, Karizemi played a pivotal role in the 2022 Northwest Lion Population Survey, when she helped our research team track lions through the rugged mountains above the Hoanib river. In 2024,Karizemi walked a total of 2,514 kms on 215 foot patrols. A growing and improving young leader in the program, Karizemi is helping show young women in the Kunene Region the important role women have to play in field-based community conservation.
In addition to prizes for their efforts, all the winning Rangers receive a promotion. They are now known as Senior Lion Rangers. With this new title comes greater responsibility for overseeing patrols as Team Leaders and heightened expectations in terms of working to support farmers in their areas. They also receive a modest increase in their field allowance, as ongoing motivation to carry on the good and important work they have already demonstrated.
