GAME RANGERS INTERNATIONAL

Who we are

Game Rangers International (GRI) is a non-profit conservation NGO established in Zambia in 2008. We work alongside the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to empower rangers and local communities to conserve Zambia’s wildlife and wild spaces.

GRI takes a holistic approach to conservation, empowering rangers across three core thematic areas: Resource Protection, Wildlife Rescue, and Community Outreach. These core services are underpinned by science, technology and research. We currently operate across three core landscapes – the Greater Kafue Ecosystem, Lusaka National Park and Rufunsa GMA to safeguard wildlife and empower local communities to actively participate in protecting the country’s rich ecosystems.

1. Resource Protection Program:

Zambia’s wildlife and wild spaces suffer ever-increasing pressure from poaching and encroachment, whilst underfunded and under-resourced law enforcement struggles to combat these threats. To address this, GRI’s Resource Protection Programme empowers government and community Rangers to better secure Zambia’s protected wildlife areas, via support to traditional anti-poaching teams and special anti-poaching units with intelligence-led rapid response capabilities. To motivate them to be more efficient and effective in conserving wildlife, we empower Rangers with adequate levels of welfare, training and operational support.

2. Wildlife Rescue Program:

GRI’s Wildlife Rescue Programme works with DNPW’s Veterinary Unit to support welfare provisions for Zambia’s wildlife. However, since 2008, through its Elephant Orphanage, GRI has specialised in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of orphaned elephants back into the wild. Young calves orphaned or displaced as a result of the ivory trade or Human-Elephant Conflict are initially rehabilitated in Lusaka National Park where they receive around-the-clock care. As they mature, the calves are relocated to Kafue National Park where they become increasingly independent of human support and spend most of their time browsing freely, with the ultimate aim of integrating and joining wild herds. In 2023, the Zambia Primate Project joined GRI and operates to ensure primates impacted by humans, specifically in the illegal pet and bushmeat trades, are rescued and given a second chance for life back in the wild.

3. Community Outreach Project (COP):

By increasing access to information, improving livelihood security and supporting subsistence farmers and fishermen with the means to coexist peacefully with wildlife, GRI’s Community Outreach Programme empowers local communities to become active stakeholders and beneficiaries in wildlife conservation. Delivered through weekly Conservation Clubs, radio broadcasts, community meetings, sports tournaments and print campaigns, our conservation awareness activities highlight the ecological importance of wildlife and encourages the reporting of wildlife crimes and conflicts. Vulnerable women and youth are empowered with capacity building, peer-support networks and sustainable livelihoods, reducing their reliance on the illegal wildlife trade, whilst the programme’s effective prevent-respond-repair approach to Human-Wildlife Conflict both mitigates and reduces the impact of crop raiding, livestock predation and water-based conflicts.

To support our conservation efforts:

Visit us at the Wildlife Discovery Centre in Lusaka National Park and meet the younger orphan herd in our care! The facility opens daily from 09:00 AM to 15:00 PM with elephant viewing from 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM. It’s a perfect family activity and you will have an opportunity to learn about our vital conservation work in Zambia.

For more details, please visit our website.

Donate here to support our conservation efforts and help protect Zambia’s incredible wildlife.

Sign up for our volunteer program or challenge yourself to participate in the Elephant EPIC, our annual 75km MTB race from Lusaka to Lower Zambezi. We also offer opportunities to adopt an elephant or sponsor a local school to visit the Wildlife Discovery Centre.