China has long been known as a country loved by poachers for their appetite for anything exotic. How fast time changes; Asha Mnkeni, Hamed Salvadord, and Vorster Mweene can attest to that.
Vorster Mweene has always fielded death threats. Hamed Salvadord is a threat to even the most cunning of poachers. Asha Mnkeni, the first female ranger, is a friend to endangered species like elephants. The Independent UK states that these three rangers, experts in their own right, has been pinpointed by China-through Jack Ma of the Alibaba Group and Ma Huateng of Tencent-as among 50 honorees from Africa.
These rangers are set to be lauded by the Paradise Foundation, an initiative by China's richest entrepreneurs. The African Ranger Awards is their vision, a salute to their bravery, as well as their dedication to their field despite the many dangers. Two more rangers, Walter Odokorwot, and 'Nanyuki' Lepalee, thanked China and its entrepreneurs for the recognition.
China Daily reports that Jack Ma of the Alibaba Group announced that it was everyone's duty to protect the environment. For his part, he said the Alibaba Group's responsibility was to create awareness about the state of the animals in Africa-to protect its resources, the organization needed to remember that everyone was connected and everyone was connected to a certain ecosystem.
The Alibaba Group head reiterated his commitment by saying that he would try to visit Africa every year. He committed that the group would try to visit the continent at least every year, with three new countries per visit. It was sort of a commitment to see how things were going and at least, to show the world that there are still people who truly love the environment and, by association, the endangered species.
The Rangers, for their part, shared personal stories about their experiences. Odokorwot said that the awards were a 'great motivator' for people like them, who do their jobs and want the world to see how dangerous and important it can be. Lapalee-incidentally a reformed elephant poacher-shared that he missed his family every time he had to work. To add to that, there is always a risk in the job-from poachers who want to get rid of the rangers.
The award winners dedicated their recognition to the 20,000 to 25,000 rangers and personnel who make it an everyday affair to put their lives on the line for Africa's wildlife.
