‘On the Front Line: The Rangers of Gorongosa National Park’ gets Maputo world premiere

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

‘On the Front Line: The Rangers of Gorongosa National Park’ gets Maputo world premiere

2:32 CAT | 31 Jul 2018

Photos: Supplied

Protecting the beautiful conservation areas of Mozambique requires courage, ability and passion. In Gorongosa National Park, a group of men and women have undergone difficult training to realise their dream of becoming a ranger.

‘On the Front Line: The Rangers of Gorongosa National Park’, an 80-minute feature-length documentary, tells the inspiring story of rangers who are chosen to wear the uniform.

Gorongosa National Park, in Mozambique, has a team of 190 rangers who work “on the front line” protecting this beautiful conservation area from a range of threats such as poaching and illegal logging.

But Gorongosa covers 400,000 hectares, and the rangers urgently need reinforcements. Seven hundred candidates from local communities try to pass the intense physical and mental tests needed to become a Gorongosa ranger – including, for the first time, female candidates.

Rangers.g

But the women will not receive any preferential treatment and will have to go through the same arduous 60-day selection process as the men.

The film is seen as an important awareness-raising tool for both the general public and decision-makers at the highest level of the country. It is hoped that it will convince the government of Mozambique to retain conservation as one of the national priorities.

The film’s world premiere will take place in Maputo on 31 July at 5 pm at the Joaquim Chissano Conference Centre.

Also there, opening at 1:00 p.m., will be an exhibition of photographs centring on World Ranger Day and a silent auction of “Throne” a sculpture created by artist Gonçalo Mabunda from animal traps seized by Gorongosa rangers.

Mabunda.gorongosa
Beginning at 2:00 pm, there will be a presentation of prizes and diplomas to the best rangers in of Mozambique conservation areas by Minister of Land, Environment and Rural Development, Celso Correia.

Members of the government and the business and diplomatic communities will be present to honour the work of Mozambique’s game rangers, while TVM and STV will broadcast promotional videos alluding to World Ranger Day.

TVM will broadcast the film itself starting at 9:00 p.m. today.

Movie Goals:

– Raise the profile of Rangers in Mozambique and raise awareness of the need to train and equip Rangers as part of a more robust law enforcement strategy in Mozambique’s Conservation Areas;

– Use the film as a vehicle to generate awareness and support of Rangers in Mozambique (and in other countries). Well selected, well equipped, with adequate salary; – Disseminate the challenges of wildlife, conservation and the environment among Mozambicans. This will be an important moment for solidarity and a call for renewed support for the protection of the Mozambican Conservation Areas. The need to expand the national strength of prosecutors will be demonstrated.

Results of the increase in the number of Rangers:

The new law enforcement strategy and the increase in the number of Rangers resulted in successful patrols. In 3 years and a total of 2,640 patrols:

– 18,306 traps of steel cables were removed and destroyed;

– 644 steel jaw traps were removed and destroyed;

– 79 firearms, including AK-47s, were seized.

Rangers.3.g

Tickets are still available for the 5 pm.m. screening at Joaquim Chissano Conference Centre! Please contact [email protected] or (+258) 84 877 4308.

Source: Gorongosa National Park Facebook / Gorongosa Natinal Park Press Release