Zambia's Wildlife Ranger Chidunuka wins International Award

 

By NDUBI MVULA, Lusaka

He is the unsung hero, but has done a lot for wildlife that has attracted the international community to honour him for the magnificent works done in the conversation of wildlife

“Zambian ranger honoured at Cape Town Tusk Trust Awards by former President FW de Klerk,” reads the headlines in some media houses.

And his name is Solomon Chidunuka, Senior Wildlife Warden, Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

He has been honoured by international conservationists that included Prince William of the United Kingdom, with the international Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award 2017.

Solomon was presented with his medal by former President FW de Klerk at a high-profile event in Cape Town last week.

The tusk conservation awards, in partnership with Investc Asset Management, gives a chance to celebrate extraordinary people, whose work and lives might otherwise go unnoticed outside their fields.

Their work with wildlife and communities in Africa safeguards the future for all.

The duke of Cambridge, Tusks Royal Patron said the Awards which meant a great deal to him personally, played a huge part in the mission to preserve Africa’s precious wildlife for its people.

“It is vital that we recognize the decision of these unsung heroes and the bravery of rangers risking their lives, day and night, on conservation’s frontline. We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude,” he said.

The 2017 Tusk award finalists were recognized at a Gala ceremony in Cape Town on the October 4^th, hosted by Derek Watts, presenter of Carte Blanche, South Africa’s longest running investigative journalism television programme.

The grand occasion was graced by South Africa’s most eminent public figures, the Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, former First Lady Graca Machel and former President Frederick W. de Klerk who presented, that awards on behalf of Tusk’s Royal Patron, the Duke of Cambridge.

However, Warden Chidunuka, is currently serving as the Senior Wildlife Warden, Mpika District after serving the Lower Zambezi National Park for thirteen years.

Under his leadership the Lower Zambezi area saw the lowest poaching levels on record. In his role as warden and ranger, Solomon displayed exceptional management and leadership in the oversight of all anti-poaching activities in his respective parks, establishing highly productive intelligence networks, which have led to successful convictions of wildlife criminals.

North Luangwa National Park is now under Solomon’s supervision, which holds the only population of black rhino, in Zambia.

He works in close collaboration with the Frankfurt Zoological Society to protect the rhino population and no rhinos have been lost under his watch.

Solomon began his wildlife protection career in 1989, and in his 26-year career he has shown his dedication to fieldwork throughout, rising through the ranks of management. He also managed to gain and maintain the respect of his colleagues, the tourism operators, communities and conservation NGOs.

It is noted that many consider Solomon as the strongest Warden in Zambia. He leads from the front and by example and is unafraid to carry out operations himself.

During his career, Solomon has established long-term networks to gather intelligence on illegal and has been able to successfully exploit them to lead to arrests. He leads from the front and by example and not afraid to carry out operations himself.

Spending as much time as possible in the field with his men, his dedication to field operations has been evident in several ‘undercover’ operations, which he has led.

Solomon is reported to have successfully launched many undercover operations resulting in the arrest of 196 poachers.

In 2017 Warden Chidunuka has had part of his leg amputated as a result of gangrene, a complication often encountered by diabetes sufferers such as Solomon.

He is an example of humility, strength and resilient in the face of adversity in his dedication and commitment to continuing the fight against wildlife crime in Zambia.

This goes without saying that with such kind of determination and hard work, the motto “Zambia, Let’s Explore” is the way to go so long the wildlife is protected.