How military the mambas should look seemed fairly obvious when looking at the real Mambas in their fatigues. But even so, it would be more interesting to have a couple of different roles that steer away from reality a bit, so I designed a scouting outfit and a security outfit.
The Scout is designed to be able to get from place to place quickly and scale everything, and security has more offensive gear, with a stab-proof vest and a knife.
Ranger Vehicle
Scrambler style motorcycle, high powered to make it easy to catch poachers
This scooter has been modified for off-road, it's low powered, but very affordable.
It's surprising how far you can go on a relatively unmodified scooter. Just a pair of knobblies and a jerry can should take you half way across South Africa.
The future seems to be electric. As well as being able to harness the power of the strong African sun, rangers can travel through the reserve in silence, causing minimal disturbance to the animals.
A fairly standard solution today is the humble dirt bike, along with a variant of the EV bike.
Ranger Hideout
Hideouts for rangers made to resemble rocks. Much like a Bird hide it allows the ranger to look and even fire out of the tent with minimal disruption to the wildlife.
The real story
“We’re the eyes and ears of the bush. We patrol the boundary of the reserve at dawn on foot and by vehicle at dusk, collecting snares and keeping watch for intruders. We don’t carry guns, just pepper spray, because our job is to gather intelligence and act as a long-term deterrent. This leaves the armed rangers free to concentrate on guarding the animals inside the reserve. If we detect an intruder, we call for back-up.”
The Black Mambas are an all female anti-poaching unit who work to protect endangered species in the 150,000 acre Balule Nature Reserve. Not only do they inspire their community, but they are effective, having reduced the amount of poaching visits by 89%. Poachers choose Balule Nature Reserve for it’s bushmeat and Rhino Horn.
Alongside their patrols, the Mambas are role-models in the community and they run weekly lessons about wildlife and conservation for kids. This holistic conservation will surely make poaching a thing of the past through education, inspiration and food security.
Game proposal
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Endangered species around the world are being poached, from the Pangolin and White Rhino (for their scales and horns used in Chinese medicine) to the African Elephant (for its ivory tusks). Step into the shoes of Rangers and Poachers and experience what it’s like to live in their shoes.
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The Purpose for this game, as well as having fun amongst the outstanding beauty of Nature reserves around the world, is to teach people about the dangers that threaten wildlife, particularly focusing on the illegal animal trade and the lives of Rangers and Poachers who are each fighting for their way of life. Game Park Tourism is controversial, but is absolutely vital to the conservation of these endangered animals, and this game would serve to educate the general public on the nuances of both sides.
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1/ South Africa - Balule Nature Reserve - Black Mambas - protecting White Rhinos - jewellery, medicine, status symbol.
Reserve is a game park used to protect animals, funded by hunting tourism (quite common and an excellent way to fund conservation, counter intuitive though it is).
2/ Thailand - Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary - Protecting Tigers
Poachers tend to be better armed than rangers, using AK-47’s
3/ Uganda - Murchison Falls National Park - Pangolins - Poached for scales, fetuses and blood are said to have “magical” medicinal properties. Dangerous animals on site include Hippos, Cheetah, Rhino, Chimpanzee, Leopard, Buffalo etc.
4/ Zimbabwe (Akashinga [The Brave Ones])- elephants, Leopards, various game.
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‘Metal Gear Solid: Phantom Pain’ Format
Build your own base/reserve, defend from attacking poachers, manage resources, patrol the area, plant surveillance, apply trackers to animals.
Go out on special missions transporting critically endangered species to secure conservation sites.
Collect intel in town, mingle within communities and subvert poachers' plans. -
‘Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 siege’ format
Defense / offense - Rangers V Poachers Using portions of the maps as maps to cater to the online aspect.Poachers armed with Snares, traps, rifles (silenced and unsilenced, AK47’s etc).Rangers armed with radio tags, intel, heat /night vision goggles and guns.
Points:Ranger acquire points by apprehending poachers, no points for killing poachers. Gain points for every animal maintained. Players should be deterred from killing poachers.Poachers acquire points for every animal captured
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Part of the reason women are selected to be rangers is because they are more averse to conflict than men. They would prefer to talk and find out the problems rather than shoot first and ask questions later.
A concern is that leaning into the combat side of being a ranger might put across the wrong idea. To address this, we could focus on the environment, making it as beautiful as possible to leave players in awe. Careful pacing will increase tension, and use a larger range of non lethal weapons, tazers, rubber bullets, or alternative means of capture like stealth and chases will make the game more challenging. Award players for scaring off poachers, and award bonus xp/points for capture.
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Possible partners to this game would be WWF, IAPF and conservation orgs and possibly Game Parks too. Similar hunting games exist, perhaps partnering them with wildlife orgs. Possible Uncharted teamup?
References
Black mambas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGmVe7noHNg
“86% of locals are unemployed, very few make any money from Game Reserve Tourism which many see as the preserve of rich white people. Poaching is a tempting option to make a lot of cash fast.”
“Many poachers have military background”
Conversation with a Poacher, reasons given for poaching.
“Those resources are getting exhausted, but what do I get from them? To be frank with you to be frank with you I have never got any shate from this I've never even put a single cent of that so once I get a chance to get it why should I give it“ “if they I kill them all I won't get this share I know my children won't get anything I won’t get anything my parents didn't get anything my ancestor never got anything so then you get the money. So I’ve got the share, it’s better, I got something”
There’s a feeling of resentment, they never got anything, their ancestors never got anything. The communities have nothing to do, they feel left behind.
Akashinga - The Brave Ones
30,000 hectare reserve — Lost 18,000 elephants in last 15 years
Africa’s first armed, plant-based, all-women anti-poaching unit is revolutionising the way that animals are protected – and arresting poachers with minimal conflict.