CAPE TOWN - Some 50 wildlife rangers from Africa were honoured for their contribution to conservation on the continent during the a ceremony in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The first African Ranger Awards, organised by China's Alibaba Foundation and the Paradise Foundation, was aimed at honouring front-line staff and saw 146 nominations from 21 African countries.
"They work in dangerous conditions, often far from their families and without the necessary resources. The award winners represent just some of the estimated 20 000 to 25 000 front-line staff who risk their lives every day to protect Africa’s rich and diverse natural wildlife," a statement from Paradise Foundation said.
"A 2016 survey found that 82% of rangers had faced mortal danger at work, and 60% had been directly attacked by poachers. More than 1 000 of Africa's rangers lost their lives protecting wildlife and wild habitats between 2000 and 2016."
The awards will be attended by the winning rangers, Paradise Foundation co-chair and Alibaba group executive chairman Jack Ma, United Nations Environment executive director Erik Solheim, South Africa's environmental affairs minister Edna Molewa and Chinese ambassador to South Africa Lin Songtian.