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Each day almost 100 elephants are slaughtered, one every 15 minutes. Right now, hundreds of post 9/11 U.S. veterans are battling at the frontlines of anti-poaching to help save these endangered species. Through Vetpaw (Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife), these highly skilled veterans use the counter-insurgency techniques they learned while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to work with local park rangers to protect the animals.
Rhino horn and elephants are extremely lucrative to criminal and terrorist networks. If left unchecked, poaching can cause wild African elephants to be extinct in the next 15 years. These Vetpaw veterans work on the ground with local law enforcement and park rangers to help them track, locate, and arrest poachers and their ringleaders.
Vetpaw was founded by Ryan Tate, a former U.S. Marine. He served from 2003-2007 in some of the most dangerous locations during the Iraq War, such as Ramadi and Fallujah. In 2005, Ryan was recognized as his unit’s Marine of the Year and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year in 2006.
After learning of the poaching issue plaguing East and South Africa, Ryan knew he had to do something to help. With his connection to the veteran community and knowledge of the unemployment crisis it was facing, Ryan decided to help fix both of these issues. Thus, the birth of Vetpaw.
Africa’s rhino population has been decimated at a staggering rate due to poaching. Poaching has evolved into a multi-billion dollar business and has been linked to terror groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram. Vetpaw is doing amazing work, both by protecting precious wildlife and employing over 200,000 American veterans.
Recently, Vetpaw partnered with Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary. This sanctuary provides a safe space for orphaned baby rhinos to grow, roam free, and breed. Without Care for Wild, the orphan rhinos rarely survive thus increasing the risk of extinction.
Help spread the good word of Vetpaw and click here if you would like to donate to their cause.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Vetpaw are not training park rangers. They are operating on a private conservancy. They do nothing in the name of conservation. They were kicked out of Tanzania for a fake photo shoot Kineesa Johnson and for conning good hearted people out of money. Vetpaw are con artists. What have they achieved in the name of conservation? Absolutely nothing… Ryan Tate wouldn’t know a rhino if he tripped over one. Shame on them.