Malawi National Parks and Wildlife Director raises concerns over ranger safety

Lilongwe, Malawi— Brighton Kumchedwa, the Director for National Parks and Wildlife in Malawi, has expressed concern about the safety of rangers working in the country's national parks and reserves, writes Judgment Katika.

Speaking at a safety training event organized by the Attorney General Alliance Africa, Kumchedwa highlighted the dangers that rangers face from poachers and said that their safety is not being adequately considered.

"It is very unfortunate to see that the treatment between a ranger and a porcher is different, and rangers are not considered," Kumchedwa said.

He urged rangers to be equipped with complete first aid knowledge in case of injury, noting that some rangers suffer from bleeding while injured in positions far from hospitals.

"My worry is that rangers are finding problems, when injured because they sometimes bleed while the position injured is far from the hospital, and the prominent thing is to be equipped with first knowledge," he said.

Caroline Chikwakwa, AGA Africa's country program coordinator for Malawi, agreed with Kumchedwa's concerns and stressed the need for training to be provided to rangers to help them protect themselves.

"We understand that rangers are receiving danger from poachers, as well as animals, so we decided to organise these training so that they can help themselves, as well as poachers," Chikwakwa said.

Shawn Karns, Executive Director for Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance, said that they have been providing first aid training and equipment to rangers to help them protect themselves.

"We have been providing first aid training and providing them with first aid equipment so that they can protect themselves," Karns said.

The Attorney General Alliance-Africa has already provided first aid training to over two hundred rangers from game reserves and parks across the country.