The Rombo Wildlife Conservancy is a 95,000 acre community-owned conservancy. Armed rangers patrol the vast area in two teams – a day team and night team. During a patrol, the rangers observe the land from high vantage points, looking out for poachers. Poachers, who are never local to the area, usually work at night and use two tactics to make their catch: a bright torch or honking noises that confuse the animal and allow poachers time to attack and kill. Rangers only shoot at poachers if they are armed and provoke violence. After a poacher is arrested, they are taken to the police.
The rangers also deter human-wildlife conflict. For example, when lions or leopards invade agricultural lands and eat livestock, rangers visit the farmers/pastoralists, ward off the wildlife, and calm the situation to prevent the killings of both wild and domestic animals. Human-wildlife conflict has unfortunately increased because of new land use changes, encroachment of development, farming and drilling for agriculture water sources.
ACC has supported the rangers through training and the purchase of equipment—from motor bikes and tents to torches and uniforms. However, the rangers are still in need of salaries and supplies.
