Anti-poaching operations

[pinstrpepete]

Hi Guys,

I don't know if any of you saw the Rhino Wars (http://skirmishsangin.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rhino-wars.html) scenario that the folks over at Skirmish Sangin posted on their blog the other day but it really piqued my interest.

Oddly enough, one of my first thoughts on reading Skirmish Sangin was in using it to represent the fight against ivory poaching, I just figured no one else would be interested.  

It is a subject that I am particularly interested in, conservative estimates currently place the number of elephant deaths at 22,000 during 2012 and increasingly governments are looking to link ivory poaching with terrorist funding, in particular with Al Shabaab in Somalia (see articles in the UK based Independent, Telegraph and Mirror newspapers this week for reference).

What do you folks think about rules covering this conflict? Are you at all interested? I don't mean to suggest for a moment that wargaming will help solve the issue in any way (I imagine people may be put off by 'gaming' with such a contemporary, ongoing situation), however, I thought I would bring the scenario to people's attention anyway, on the off chance it inspires someone to go off and find out a little more about what's going on...

I guess i'm just a hippy at heart.

Cheers
Pete

[Burnt65]

Why would you need a unique set of rules?
What is wrong with the approach of Sangin or using any of the other modern skirmish rules sets to put together a scenario?

[pinstrpepete]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using the Skirmish Sangin rules. Like I said, when I first read them I thought they would be perfect for the situation and their scenario proves that.

I did not mean at all to suggest that a new rule set needs developing. I was just curious what people think of the scenario and the 'setting' in general. I don't know about you but it is not something I have ever come across in table top gaming but perhaps I just have not been looking in the right places.

[Gibby]

That does sound like a really interesting scenario! I never really though about such things as a setting for modern wargaming, but I am pretty naive about such things outside of military conflicts!

[Brummie]

The British army was deployed to Kenya, and I think elsewhere in helping the local park Rangers to combat poachers. It was a very short deployment but there was a Light infantry unit keeping an eye on Elephants.

Executive Outcomes also did some Anti-poaching Ops (Ex-SAS) until WWF found out and went ape prior to their famous romp in Sierra Leone.

[Arlequín]

Unless you plan on gaming the elephant or rhino shooting as part of it, I don't imagine it would be very different to a typical low-key counter-insurgency operation. I gather the poachers are armed little differently to a poorly equipped band of guerillas and in some areas are actually former guerillas in any case.

Zambia's Police Service are equipped with AK's and have a pretty distinctive camouflage.

[Silent Invader]

Do you think the wellies belonged to the poachers?!

[juergen c. olk]

Also you now need rules for aerial drones,Uganda has just announced they will deploy drones to stop the poaching,good hunting Bwana

[Maspalio]

really interesting  !!

I may introduce this in my post apo project

[pinstrpepete]

Some interesting stuff here.

I did not know about Executive Outcomes involvement Brummie. Funnily enough I was discussing the potential for PMC's involvement earlier on today so I suppose I am not surprised to hear that.

Also interesting to see how drone use develops, groups outside of the military are also seeking to make use of them, the IAPF for example as well as WWF (backed by Google I believe).

In terms of 'gaming' these scenarios I am not really up to date on sourcing appropriate mini's? I guess the Eureka Somalia range would be useful for Poachers. I believe TAG does an African militia range but I am not sure they are for me. Any ideas on what could be used to represent rangers or perhaps African military forces?

[Arlequín]

Do you think the wellies belonged to the poachers?!

No, wellie-rustling is a major issue in Zambia, they were seized before being returned to their rightful owners. In some parts of Zambia the price of wellies is actually more stable than the currency. This statement may contain lies 

In terms of 'gaming' these scenarios I am not really up to date on sourcing appropriate mini's? I guess the Eureka Somalia range would be useful for Poachers. I believe TAG does an African militia range but I am not sure they are for me. Any ideas on what could be used to represent rangers or perhaps African military forces?

Eureka's Portuguese Colonial War and Rhodesian Bush War figures might yield some suitable figures, but they are '70s era figures, so might look a bit-dated to a point. They are indeed excellent figures though.

The old Mongrel 'Congo' and 'Lebanon' figures have a few suitable ones, but I understand they are difficult to get hold of. Newline Designs are supposed to be their UK outlet. Again these might look a bit dated but some of the figures might fit the bill, presuming you can get them.

I can't comment on the TAG figures, but they look okay from the photos.

[Silent Invader]

No, wellie-rustling is a major issue in Zambia, they were seized before being returned to their rightful owners. In some parts of Zambia the price of wellies is actually more stable than the currency.

   

I was wondering if it was some not-so secret code for "and this is how  many poachers were killed!"

[carlos marighela]

I'm rather taken by the idea.

Many of the Eureka ZANLA guerillas would look the part for either side, poachers or gamekeepers/park service/ police and then, yes some of the Somalis would make good poachers or guerillas.

Gripping beast do some very nice African militia, compatible size wise with the Eureka stuff. Ideal for more ragged poachers, a number in singlets and even one or two with bolt action rifles. There's even a child soldier for added pathos.

I suspect there are any number of suitable toy store jumbos, Rhinos and what have you for 'objective markers'. Probably the only practical way if you wanted a small herd. I think I've seen cheapo Safari or Zoo sets in the chain stores in Oz, I'll have to check them out.

[Rob_bresnen]

A cool idea-  I love those Zambian's cammo!

Look at The Assault Group Ultra Moderns for African troops.

[carlos marighela]

I wonder if they use the captured poachers' wellies as umbrella stands?