Over the past 11 years these Awards have recognised 53 leaders, represented 19 African countries and raised awareness of over 60 vulnerable species that are now better protected as a result.
The 2023 Ceremony was held at The Savoy, London, on Monday 27th November.
This award gives international recognition to the men and women who face danger every day.
Rangers often work for little reward, risking and regularly losing their lives to protect the world's wildlife and its fragile ecosystems.
The recipient of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award is:
Jealous Mpofu joined Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) in March 1997. He was seeking an opportunity in life, after many years of frustration, working as a casual labourer for Zimbabwe National Parks. At PDC he heads up the team whose daily job is to track down and monitor the various study packs of painted dogs in Hwange National Park. He is responsible for reporting the whereabouts of packs in conflict zones to anti-poaching units, and he leads them into the areas to sweep for snares.
Jealous has been an ever-present force in the evolution of Painted Dog Conservation. Jealous monitors five packs with a combined territory of more than 3,000 km2. He drives out each day, confident in his acquired abilities with radio telemetry, his inherent bush skills and his intimate knowledge of the dog’s behaviour. Often staying in the bush for days until he sees them, particularly if there is an injured dog in the pack. They are ‘his dogs’, he knows each one as an individual.
To find out about previous winners of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award please visit the Tusk Awards Website: