Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife or VETPAW is a non-profit organization that employs former and retired veterans to help protect African wildlife from poachers and those who wish to profit from the illegal animal trade. Often a target of criticism online, founder Ryan Tate takes it all with a grain of salt, focusing on VETPAW making a difference in the African ecosystem and animals' lives.
VETPAW Reviews and Common Criticisms
VETPAW is often the target of negative reviews and comments on social media. Plagued with the spread of false information, questions about their conservation methods, or criticism of their work, owner Ryan Tate focuses on keeping the balance of nature maintained.
Often this online commentary comes from other veterans and animal rights activists. Focused on conservation, VETPAW comes under fire for protecting animals while also hunting and helping to control other animal populations. Why save the elephant that destroys crops and tramples huts yet allow hunters to come in and hunt impala?
VETPAW has come under fire at times for working with reserves that utilize ethical hunting practices to manage antelope populations.
Ryan is all about balance in his conservation work, being neither pro-hunting nor against hunting. He explains how fenced-in areas tend to become overpopulated with animals like impala. Too many impalas negatively affect the environment, taking food away from other endangered animals such as rhinos or elephants.
He asks whether people want a continent full of impalas or a continent with diverse and varied wildlife. He puts the research data in the hands of experts regarding population control, always in favor of what is best for the ecosystem.
Focusing on the Work, Not VETPAW Reviews
Ryan does not care what people say about him or VETPAW, as long as they leave his vets out of the conversation. Based in New York, VETPAW employs veterans giving them much-needed and rewarding work that helps animal conservation, something near and dear to Ryan's heart.
The organization allows vets therapeutic and meaningful work with animals while helping to keep the African ecosystem in check. Whether a few people online agree with VETPAW’s methods rates low on Ryan's list of concerns. He suggests those who take issue with the ethical control of animals stop and think about where their meat comes from.
Ryan says VETPAW is not in a position to tell conservation subject matter experts like biologists and ecologists to do their jobs. The African conservation landscape is complex and different regions present different challenges for conservationists. Many people assume that animals in Africa roam the entire continent freely. There are still regions where wildlife is free to migrate between ecosystems in order to escape droughts, but conservation has changed largely over the past few decades.
Instead of worrying about what a vocal minority thinks, Ryan and VETPAW let their actions speak for themselves. By providing day and night monitoring and tracking rhino, elephant, and cheetah populations while employing anti-poaching practices, they not only help these animals but help provide valuable research data for reservation conservation.
Human-wildlife conflict is a large threat to both animals and humans. Some of the largest parks utilize perimeter fences to safely separate humans and animals. This presents new challenges for the conservationists charged with maintaining flora and fauna integrity. All species have different gestation periods, eating habits, and nutritional needs which presents a tough task for experts
How to Help Support VETPAW
Donating to VETPAW helps increase the population of black and white rhino and other endangered wildlife to sustainable levels. They also offer African conservation safaris, as well as merchandise. All profits from sales go directly to funding VETPAW's mission of protecting wildlife and empowering U.S. Veterans.
For more information about VETPAW and how to get involved with their work, visit their webpage. You’ll find everything needed to help protect wildlife in Africa's Eastern Cape, including fundraising efforts and career opportunities for veterans.
Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife (VETPAW) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. VETPAW's Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 46-4641830.
Often this online commentary comes from other veterans and animal rights activists. Focused on conservation, VETPAW comes under fire for protecting animals while also hunting and helping to control other animal populations. Why save the elephant that destroys crops and tramples huts yet allow hunters to come in and hunt impala?
