There were many highlights to our work in 2020.
2020 in review
The amazing energy and enthusiasm of our donors was unwavering in 2020. Our work would not be possible without the funds raised by the dedicated Tusk donors who took part in, or supported, Tusk’s events and appeals. Ride4Rangers In the summer, a team of British amateur cyclists set off in a bid to cycle from Land's End to John o'Groats, to support the vital work of wildlife rangers across Africa. In an initiative launched by the UK Africa travel industry in partnership with Tusk, the Ride4Rangers team were joined by travel company staff, celebrities and the public, cumulatively riding 62,000km, the equivalent of circumnavigating Africa twice. With the backing of over 80 travel companies and teams across the UK, Europe and Africa, the campaign to support African rangers and wildlife raised a remarkable £329,000, with match funding from the Scheinberg Relief Fund as part of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge. Tusk’s thanks go to Ben Morison and his team who gave up their time, limitless energy and serious expertise to make this campaign such a success; to Land Rover for their generous provision of a Defender support vehicle; to Accor/Mantis for kindly providing hotel accommodation and to Ethiopian Airlines and ATTA. Main image World fastest marathoner, Eliud Kipchoge takes part in a training run with rangers at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy ahead of the 2020 Virtual Lewa Safari Marathon Credit: Jeff Waweru Middle right The Ride for Rangers cyclists at the finish line Credit: Mary-Jane Attwood Bottom right Lion Rangers from Tusk Partner Lion Landscapes pose next to the Tusk Vehicle in Loisaba, Laikipia Kenya Credit: Jeff Waweru Far left Credit: Zambia Carnivore Program
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Tusk Talk | 2021 Magazine
The Tusk Crisis Appeal As widely reported in the previous edition of Tusk Talk, the Covid-19 pandemic had, and is still having, devastating consequences for conservation in Africa. Throughout the crisis we have remained in regular contact with our partners, who continue to struggle with the impact that the loss of tourism and donor income has had on their work. Tusk’s Crisis Appeal prioritised maintaining our support towards salaries and operating costs of our project partners. With your support, Tusk raised over £700,000 from the appeal for our project partners across the continent. As we look to a slow recovery, and with little chance of either local economies or tourism recouping rapidly in Africa, Tusk’s partners are expecting 2021 to be the hardest year in their project’s history. Please support our Recovery Appeal (back cover) to help us ensure our partners can continue to weather the storm.