Law Enforcement
At the heart of the Rufunsa Conservation Project is the empowerment of Rangers — the frontline defenders of wildlife. Working in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and Conservation Lower Zambezi, GRI provides training, welfare, and operational support to ensure Rangers can protect this vast and vital landscape.​
Ranger Empowerment
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Started in 2019 with just two small units comprising 10 Rangers, the team has since grown to 20 Rangers organized into four patrol teams—Chessa, Mucheni, Nkupi, and Vundu. Today, the Rangers are fully equipped with uniforms, essential kit, rations, and welfare support, ensuring both high morale and operational effectiveness. They conduct anti-poaching patrols across the Rufunsa Game Management Area (RGMA) by foot, boat, and vehicle, respond to incidents of human-wildlife conflict, and record wildlife sightings to support monitoring and conservation efforts.
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Achievements (2022-2024)
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7,628 man-days of patrols completed, covering more than 14,000 km on foot, vehicle, and boat.
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519 snares removed, 2 firearms confiscated, and 43 kg of illegal fish meat seized.
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16 poachers apprehended, 27 poachers’ camps dismantled, and 13 fishing nets confiscated.
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​Ground Patrol Tracks, 2022-2024
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​Technology as a Force Multiplier
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Rangers now use the SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) system and EarthRanger to collect patrol data, track wildlife, and strengthen law enforcement through real-time monitoring.​
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Lasting Impact​
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Patrol presence has dramatically reduced elephant poaching in Rufunsa. Wildlife is returning, poachers’ activities are disrupted, and communities are beginning to see Rangers not just as enforcers, but as protectors of shared natural resources.
