Two leaders of Perak’s Menraq Patrol Unit were invited to the first Asian Ranger Forum in Guwahati, Assam, India, to receive the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) International Ranger Award 2023. Ardi Kembong and Sufian Raman received the award from MK Yadava of the Indian Forest Service, who is also the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force, at a ceremony on Dec 7, as per Rimau (Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia).
The Malaysian NGO said in a statement recently that “This award serves as a tribute to the remarkable work undertaken by park rangers worldwide, who serve as guardians of our precious ecosystems and biodiversity.” Congratulating the Menraq patrol unit for the recognition, Rimau and the Perak State Parks Corporation said their dedication serves as an inspiration to all those striving to protect the natural world.
Notably, the Menraq unit is the first Malaysian patrol unit to be bestowed this prestigious award, which consists of US$10,000 (RM45,495) to support their efforts and a uniform patch to signify their achievement. The win was first announced during an online ceremony on July 26, as informed by Rimau.
Working in the Royal Belum State Park, the Menraq unit is a team of community patrollers comprising the Jahai Orang Asli. It was formed by the Perak State Parks Corporation with Rimau, with the main aim of mobilising the local community to provide additional resources to protect the park from poachers and ensure the survival of the critically endangered Malayan tiger.
The award partners recognised five rangers and four ranger teams this year, with winners selected from a pool of more than 114 nominations from 52 countries. Notably, some of the other winners are from Bhutan, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa, and Ukraine.
The ceremony was hosted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the IUCN’s WCPA, in collaboration with the International Ranger Federation (IRF), and conservation groups Re:wild and Conservation Allies. The Asian Ranger Forum, held from Dec 5 to 8 at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra cultural institution, brought together rangers and organizations supporting them from all over Asia to collaborate on global issues and provide potential solutions.
The forum was hosted by various regional and international ranger groups, including IRF, the Ranger Federation of Asia, the Universal Ranger Support Alliance and the Assam Forest Department.
