Ranger Rwot of Kidepo bags $3000 award

PIC: Kidepo Valley National Park's ranger, Walter Okoth at work. (Titus Kakembo)

AWARD

KAMPALA - A Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA) ranger Walter Okot in Kidepo Valley National Park has been nominated as one of the ten outstanding rangers in the world.

The recognition of his service comes with a monetary reward of $3000 in Cape Town.

"It is great to know that there are people out there who appreciate the challenges of a ranger," confided Okot.

"The poachers hunting for ivory and rhino horns are getting more sophisticated than they were in the 1960s. It is a continental racquet."

Beaming with smiles of satisfaction, Okot said it is a previllage to meet and rub shoulders with: the Alibaba sponsors, UN dignitaries, conservation big shots and have a trip to South Africa for recognition.

Talking about the challenges of a ranger's job, Okot said he risks his life when he encounters armed poachers, charging mammals and reptiles.

"If I stumbled on a rock python it would not hesitate to strike, dig its fangs in my body and end my life," Okot said.

"A mother elephant with cubs, wouldn't spare me if it got me in its territory. These mammals would not know that I am protecting them against danger.

Generally in my kind of job it is team work. I am not alone. We share the credit with the driver, informers and investigators."

Okot said like the 1200 rangers in the country, UWA makes sure they are better trained by Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) to burst  or halt a crime before it is committed.

They are equipped with assault riffles, motor boats, modern communication gear and boots to brace for rough encounters.

By sharing information across the world they have been instrumental in enabling the renaissance of wildlife in the country by arresting of several prohibited natural goods such as rhino horns and Ivory while in transit.

"We spend more hours with: plants, primates, reptiles and mammals than with our family members," said Okot. "It takes lots of commitment and sacrifice to save mother earth from destruction."

The rangers posted to national parks and reserves work far away from their families and spouses are forced to singly bring up the children.