The winners, selected by evaluation of the work done over the last 12 months, starting in July 2020 were announced as follows:

BEST FIELD RANGER

Winner: Samuel Loware of Uganda Wildlife Authority. Because of his effective monitoring and data collection skills, Samuel has made a significant impact on the increase of both giraffe and lion populations in the Kidepo Valley National Park. He is now conducting habitat assessments for the reintroduction of rhino into Kidepo, and other translocations of wildlife to ensure the conservation of these key species.

Samuel Loware of Uganda Wildlife Authority

Julius Kaputo of Conservation Lower Zambezi, Zambia.

Losas Lanamunyi of Northern Rangelands Trust, Kenya.

BEST GAME RANGER

Winner: Don English of South African National Parks for his outstanding leadership in the Kruger National Park where against all odds, through sheer tenacity and persistence and with the support of his ranger teams, he has managed to lower rhino poaching activities year on year in the Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ).

Don English of South African National Parks

Benson Kanyembo of Conservation South Luangwa, Zambia.

Albert Smith of South African National Parks, South Africa.

BEST CONSERVATION PRACTIONER

Winner: SANParks Kruger National Park Airwing - This dedicated team of committed professionals work tirelessly to support rangers, veterinarians and researchers in protecting, saving, conserving and monitoring endangered species within the Kruger National Park and neighbouring protected areas. These pilots and their support staff are instrumental in many of the counter-poaching successes in the area.

SANParks Kruger National Park Airwing

SANParks Marula South (IPZ) Rangers, South Africa.

Eastern Cape DEDEAT Green Scorpions, South Africa.

BEST CONSERVATION SUPPORTER

Winner: Lynne Taylor – The Tashinga Initiative. Lynne’s targeted initiatives ensuring rangers receive the support necessary to perform optimally have transformed the well-being and operational capabilities of the rangers in the Zambezi Valley. This enables them to function effectively and supports their extraordinary work in conservation and on-going protection of threatened species in Zimbabwe.

Lynne Taylor – The Tashinga Initiative.

SANParks Environmental Crime Investigators, South Africa.

WWF South Africa – Wildlife Programme, Southern Africa.