Home Conservation Fighting Wildlife Crime Wildlife Rangers

Will Fortescue

Wildlife Rangers

The role of a wildlife ranger is vital if we are to win the war against wildlife crime.

Without rangers there would be no hope for critically endangered species like elephants and rhinos in their natural habitats, which they are fighting to protect.

Working in some of the planet’s most extreme and dangerous environments, anti-poaching rangers do one of the toughest jobs in the world. They work tirelessly day and night in often hostile conditions to protect wildlife on the conservation front line.

Unsung Heroes

The responsibilities of a wildlife ranger can vary from day-to-day, and cover anything from park protection to law enforcement and community outreach. Some of the main activities that DSWF funds for rangers to undertake across Africa and Asia include:

Carrying out anti-poaching and anti-trafficking patrols across national parks.
Locating and removing wildlife snares which pose threats to all wildlife.
Collecting vital data on endangered species and their habitats.
Responding to reports of wildlife crime and gathering intelligence on illegal activity.
Working with communities to raise awareness and mitigate wildlife conflict.

Theo Bromfield

What threats do rangers face?

Many wildlife rangers have tragically been killed in the line of duty protecting wildlife.

The threats to wildlife ranger’s safety include:

Heavily armed and highly organised poachers – according to current global statistics, two rangers lose their lives in the line of duty every week.
Distressed animals, often in a traumatised state due to human-wildlife conflict, who may attack or lash out in fear.

Harsh treatment from other community members, who have in the past disregarded wildlife protection as a credible form of employment.
The risks associated with dangerous and harsh landscapes, where rangers often face gruelling conditions due to extreme weather, long and arduous hours with limited communication or fast access to help when needed.
Wildlife rangers are sadly often under-resourced and under-supported which can severely hinder their daily work when up against organised and well-funded criminal gangs and syndicates.
Rangers are fighting a war on wildlife crime and sadly in the last ten years over 1,000 rangers have died doing their jobs. We must support these selfless individuals who put their lives on the line every day to protect endangered species.

Will Fortescue

How DSWF helps wildlife rangers in Africa

DSWF has been supporting wildlife rangers in Africa for over thirty years. From the Kafue National Park in Zambia to the deserts of Namibia, DSWF has always acknowledged the vital role that these selfless individuals play in conserving Africa’s most endangered species, often against difficult odds.

Snow Leopard Trust & Prasenjeet Yadav

Snow Leopard Trust

How DSWF helps wildlife rangers in Asia

DSWF’s support of rangers in Asia spreads from the Himalayas to the Dong Phayanyen-Khao Yai Forest Complex in Thailand. Their tireless efforts are a testament to the success of our ground-based conservation partners who provide unwavering operational, training and welfare support.

Help support these wildlife warriors by sponsoring a ranger today

Sponsor a Ranger

Law Enforcement

Effective law enforcement is critical to tackling wildlife crime and requires intelligence-led initiatives and the deployment of trained individuals with the resources and equipment to face well-armed poachers and trafficking gangs. Find out more about what DSWF is doing to support wildlife law enforcement.

Wildlife Law Enforcement

Investigations

The illegal wildlife trade is a key driver of our current extinction crisis, particularly for species such as pangolin, rhino, tiger and elephant. Find out more about the type of investigation work that DSWF is funding.

Wildlife Investigations

Fighting Wildlife Crime

Wildlife crime, an illegal $19 billion industry, has become one of the major drivers of species extinction in the last several decades. Find out more about what DSWF is doing to tackle these abhorrent issues.

Fighting Wildlife Crime