Ethiopian Airlines sponsors RIDE 4 RANGERS supporting Tusk & Land Rover

23^rd August 2020

Ethiopian Airlines sponsors RIDE 4 RANGERS supporting Tusk & Land Rover

Ethiopian Airlines welcomed riders supporting ‘Ride 4 Rangers’ at Manchester Airport today, Sunday 23^rd August 2020.  The British amateur cyclists started their global 30,000KM bike ride in Land’s End on Saturday 15^th August and will arrive in John O’Groats on Saturday 29^th August.

Stopping off at Manchester Airport on route to thank the Ethiopian Team for their support, Michael Yohannes, Director UK & Ireland Ethiopian Airlines commented, “We are delighted to be supporting this amazing charity and welcome the cyclists to Manchester Airport where we operate from to Addis Ababa and connecting across Africa.  During these difficult times it is a pleasure to support and work with the African Travel Industry on this incredible project (detailed below) and we wish all the cyclists the best of luck in the UK and across the African Continent”.

Julian Carr, Airline Development Director at Manchester Airport, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Ben, Jean and Joel to Manchester Airport as they approached the halfway mark on their lengthy journey, raising money and awareness for a very important cause.

“In these unprecedented times, its important we do whatever we can to continue building on the crucial links between the North and the rest of the world. We’re delighted that Ethiopian is maintaining its thrice-weekly service to Addis Ababa, linking Manchester directly with the sub-Saharan Africa, and to that end, it’s also fantastic to see three British cyclists helping to make a huge difference to wildlife conservation across the continent.”

Pictured:

Cyclists:  Black Helmet – Joel Crossland – Africa Reps;    Red Helmet – Ben Morison – Far & Wild Travel with Tim Bettney – Traffic & Sales Manager – Ethiopian Airlines – Manchester with the TUSK Land Rover and Ethiopian Aircraft (B 787 Dreamliner) just arrived from Addis Ababa.

A TEAM OF BRITISH AMATEUR CYCLISTS START GLOBAL 30,000KM BIKE RIDE WITH LAND’S END

TO JOHN O’GROATS ADVENTURE TO PROTECT AFRICAN RANGERS & WILDLIFE

• 50+ African Travel professionals doing a joint bike ride Land’s End to John O’Groats
• Thousands of people around the globe doing their own ‘virtual’ bike ride for Rangers
• 874 miles Land’s End to John O’Groats
• 30,000 miles cumulative distance target – equivalent of circumnavigating Africa
• 5,000 Wildlife rangers will be kept in the field doing vital work to protect wildlife across Africa
• 1,038 rangers have died in the field over the past 10 years which is one ranger losing his/her life every 3 days
• Large increase in poaching as a direct result of COVID-19
• US$10millon- the total Tusk aims to raise and put into the field to support African Rangers over next 6-9 months
• JOIN THE RIDE – the initiative is inviting fellow wildlife and Africa lovers to join the team for part or all of LEJOG or in your own Ride 4 Rangers
• NOMINATE - Cycle 10KM, Donate £10, Nominate 3 people

Ride 4 Rangers is an initiative by the UK Africa Travel Industry in partnership with conservation charity Tusk which will see the team ride the 874 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats and is inviting hundreds of fellow Africa Travel industry professionals, Africa and wildlife lovers to join them on the way.

A GLOBAL INITIATIVE

Alongside the Land’s End to John O’Groats ride, 15^th August also marks the start of a series of global Ride 4 Rangers events and activities where Africa and wildlife lovers across the UK, Europe and 9 African Nations (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique) are getting involved clocking their own miles and raising vital funds. A team in South Africa’s Kruger National Park are doing a relay walk from north to south, in Northern Kenya another team are doing a horse ride for rangers traversing Borana conservancy into Lewa conservancy, in Botswana they are holding a club bike ride, in Malawi they are hosting a charity run in Lilongwe, in Tanzania a team are riding from Mount Kilimanjaro to Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, in Uganda a group are doing a 5km cycle around Entebbe, Namibia have a socially distanced hike and in Austria they have launched a series of 10KM bike rides. The initiative is gaining momentum daily.

THE ROUTE

The route will journey throughout the UK from Land’s End to John O’Groats via traditional LEJOG routes. For the full map visit https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33296734 and for a day by day schedule to find out when the ride is near you see below:

GET INVOLVED VISIT www.ride4rangers.com

• 15 Aug – 29 Aug Join all or part of the ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats 
• Do your own Ride 4 Rangers at home, in a park, around your garden 5, 10, 20, 50 KM
• Ride 10KM,  Donate £10, Nominate 3 People
• Sponsor the challenge and double your impact through match-funding
• Tell your friends via social media and spread the word

#RIDE4RANGERS @RIDE4RANGERS #TOGETHERFORTUSK #FORWILDLIFERANGERS

BACKGROUND

Tourism is the key funder of conservation in Africa through park fees and a healthy wildlife population is what the industry is built on. Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been very little money going into the conservation system. With most holidays on hold until next year, the Africa travel industry is in dire straits and the trickledown effect on the ground across the continent is already being felt.

Money to pay rangers in some of the world’s flagship wildlife areas in Africa is simply not there.  Prized wilderness areas such as Tanzania’s Serengeti, South Africa’s Kruger and many more are struggling to pay the salaries of the rangers that are critical to the safety of already highly endangered wildlife. The loss of park and conservancy fees from visiting tourist has meant that budgets have been cut dramatically.  Many people have been laid off which is not only having a devastating effect for the families of those rangers, many of whom have 8-10 dependants, but it is also already impacting on wildlife as a result of an widespread increase in reports of poaching. The role of rangers is vital to maintain the long term protection of these wild places. Across Africa wildlife rangers are the first line of defence against illegal poaching and without them many species like elephant, rhino, lion, giraffe and pangolin would be at even greater risk of extinction. Over the past 10 years 1,038 rangers have tragically lost their lives in the field, the equivalent to 1 losing their life every three days.

“As we come out of lockdown we are starting to realise the effect of COVID-19 across the world, and no more so than in Africa where the economic impact of the global shut down has been devastating with the tourism and conservation sectors starved of vital revenue required to protect both wildlife and livelihoods.” Charlie Mayhew MBE – CEO of conservation charity Tusk

The Africa Travel industry is and has always been passionate about recognising the vital role played by rangers on the frontline working to ensure the protection of Africa’s unique natural heritage. 

“The interdependence between travel and conservation in Africa has been thrown into sharp relief.  I applaud every effort being made by my fellow Africa travel professionals and supporters in helping protect the livelihoods of rangers on the frontline who play such a vital role in ensuring the safety of Africa’s wildlife.” Chris Mears, CEO of the African Travel and Tourism Association commented

The Ride 4 Rangers Challenge aims to raise £100,000+ as part of a wider WILDLIFE RANGER CHALLENGE* being coordinated by Tusk and Natural State – a new initiative specifically designed to support the salaries and deployment of African Rangers during this crisis. The initiative has been established with the support of the Scheinberg Relief Fund which has pledged to generously match all monies raised up to $5m.  This means that Ride 4 Rangers has the potential to double its impact on the ground.

All funds raised will be distributed by Tusk across some 60+ reserves and protected areas throughout Africa. The fund aims to raise and disburse US$10 million into the field over the next 6-9 months supporting over 5000 rangers and their wider families. This month an initial US$2 million is being distributed.

Charlie Mayhew MBE, CEO of TUSK commented:

“We are delighted to support this inspiring challenge.  It is wonderful to see the drive and energy of the UK Africa Travel industry coming together to raise valuable funds to keep rangers on the frontline - recognising the extraordinary bravery and commitment they demonstrate on a daily basis in the protection of our natural world. “

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Ethiopian:

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the Pan-African passenger and cargo network, operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 127 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777- 300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin; with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft. Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that has seen it become the leading aviation group in Africa with Seven Strategic Business Units: Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian Ground Services, Ethiopian Express Services and Ethiopian Airports. Ethiopian is a multi-award-winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past eight years.

www.ethiopianairlines.com www.facebook.com/ethiopianairlines www.twitter.com/flyethiopian

ABOUT TUSK & WILDLIFE RANGER CHALLENGE

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge is a new initiative by Tusk Trust and NATURAL STATE and is being overseen by an independent Steering Committee composed of conservation leaders from across Africa to raise funds and support thousands of rangers in the field, enabling them to support local livelihoods and protect iconic African wildlife such as elephant, pangolin, rhino and lion. The Scheinberg Relief Fund, a philanthropic fund established by businessman and philanthropist Mark Scheinberg and his family in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, is the founding donor of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge.

Contact Mary Jane Attwood on mary-jane@tusk.org for more information

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