By Patty Magubira.
Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) mulls improving perks to rangers following upped revenue collection and appreciation of the dangers that the men and women in greens face in the course of protecting wildlife, highly treasured as national and cultural heritage.
Speaking at celebrations to mark World Rangers Day held at the Tarangire National Park on July 31, 2025, Conservation Commissioner (CC), Mussa Nassoro Kuji (pictured), said TANAPA considered seriously to reward rangers for exemplary performance.
“Rangers with exemplary performance must be recognised and awarded certificates, cash prizes and promotion as well as study tours to learn what others elsewhere are doing,” said CC Kuji.
The proposal was enthusiastically received by TANAPA Board of Trustees member, Dr Robert Fyumagwa, who advised the matter be brought up at the next board meeting. Apparently, Dr Fyumagwa was the official guest. In his message, he paid glowing tribute to rangers killed or injured in the course of duty.
Assistant Conservation Commissioner (Human Resources), Cecilia Mtanga, explained that rangers were this year awarded Shs 1,000,000 and a certificate each in three categories of Best Ranger, Heroic Incidents and Long Term Service.
Meanwhile, TANAPA earned a total Sh 500tr in 2024/25, surpassing the target of Sh 430tr that the authority had set. CC Kuji, who is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) holder, said the amount could have gone up by at least Sh 40tr more had it not been for measures taken by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) to ban local payments in dollars.
World Ranger Day is observed every July 31 to honour the role of frontline defenders of planet earth’s floral and fauna diversity.
