"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, American anthropologist, 1901-1978
This week sees World Ranger Day (31 July) to acknowledge the incredible bravery of the rangers and wildlife guardians around the world and the ultimate sacrifice many of them make to protect wildlife.
And there's news from Iran.
Some 300 rangers will soon join the forces defending the environment across the country.
The Tehran Times reports about 300 rangers will soon join the forces defending the environment in Iran.
Although 800 people have passed the preliminary tests to defend Iran’s protected areas, only 300 people will be chosen for the tasks in hand.
The tests sound rigorous. Potential rangers face fitness, medical and psychological tests and assessments relating to emergency and defending operations.
They will need to be able to cope with different weather conditions, to live in different places and in difficult conditions. They will also need to be able to act appropriately in difficult situations.
Rangers protect and preserve protected lands. However, they face death and injuries in doing so. They may get into fights with poachers and get injured or worse, killed; or charged with involuntary manslaughter. Since 1979, over 120 rangers have been killed while protecting the environment.
World Ranger Day gives us all the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the incredible work Rangers do around the world, both men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting the planet’s wildlife and wild places.
African Parks celebrate their Rangers too. They have a team of 1,000 Rangers and it’s growing. As they say, their Rangers are “boots on the ground”
African Parks has 15 parks under its management. That means that 10.5 million hectares are being secured, thanks to the 100,000 plus patrols the Rangers carry out every year. They defend the most remote, wildest and often conflict ridden areas on the continent. Thanks to the Rangers, African Parks can ensure that protected areas have the ecosystem services and opportunities locals deserve. For Rangers help bring jobs, provide education, healthcare and stability.
Examples of Achievements of the African Parks Rangers:
Rangers have decreased elephant poaching by 98% in Garamba in the DRC. Thanks to the better security, there’s a sustainable development plan which will help bring clean water, electricity and education to over 100,000 people around the park.
In Zakouma, Chad, they have practically eliminated poaching and elephant numbers are going up for the first time in decades. And they are working with local communities and reducing illegal activity in the area.
In Chinko in the Central African Republic, they have provided safe harbour people fleeing conflict. 32 of them have been employed to help cattle herders observe the park’s boundary.
Rangers are undertaking very dangerous work, nonetheless, and they need your support. They need continual training, equipment and gear to meet the threat of poaching.
What do you want to achieve in 2019? What would you think if you were able to play a part in delivering anti-poaching techniques, protecting wild landscapes and helping to expand a ranger force to protect wildlife?
Well, I’ve had an email from African Parks, a non-profit conservation organisation. It takes on the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities.
In their email, they share their goals to make an impact for people and wildlife in Africa. And they need supporters to help them achieve their targets.
Here are African Parks’ goals:
To expand their ranger force by recruiting 200 new Rangers and growing their force to 1,200. The rangers come from local communities so this is a great way to involve local people in conservation – it gives locals a chance to take charge of their futures
To grow and deliver successful anti-poaching techniques. Its K9 anti-poaching unit in Akagera, Rwanda, is helping to bring poaching to an all-time low in the park. New puppies are training to join the unit next year, and the plan is to deploy a new K9 unit in Garamba in the DRC where parks have been hard hit by militarised elephant poaching
To restore and protect more wild landscapes. At the moment, African Parks manages 15 parks in 9 countries, conserving 10.5 million hectares in Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Zambia. Its aim is to manage 20 parks by 2020. Several parks are in the pipeline already.
The 31st July is a special day in the calendar for wildlife protection. World Ranger Day commemorates Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty. And it celebrates the amazing work Rangers do around the world to protect the natural world.
The event is organised by the International Ranger Federation which works to raise awareness of and support the critical work rangers do. Its membership comprises of 63 ranger associations from 46 countries on 6 continents. It seeks "to empower rangers by supporting their national or state ranger organizations, or assisting in the establishment of local ranger associations in countries where they do not currently exist". You can find out more about it here
World Rangers Day gives us all a chance to show our support and appreciation for the amazing men and women who defend wildlife on the front line of conservation.
For over 30 years, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation has been standing with the world’s rangers every day. This morning, I received an email to remind me of the way in which rangers work to protect wildlife and how the charity supports them. I hope they will forgive me for relaying their email to you; but it does sum up well the different types of work rangers are involved with.
Types of wildlife ranger include the following:
Wildlife Rangers watch over wildlife. They may care for young orphaned elephants until these wonderful majestic animals can re-join a release herd. Some keep wildlife safe, often risking their own lives against the poachers.
Community Rangers raise awareness amongst local communities to make sure they understand how protecting wildlife can be beneficial; and also helping them live alongside them. Some rangers have created women’s groups, making and selling crafts, so that locals have an alternative income.
Intelligence and Investigation Rangers disrupt illegal wildlife trade routes and eliminate poaching hotspots. They work day and night against the poachers. They are intelligence-led enforcement units, who are putting their lives on the line every day to protect wildlife.
Veterinary Rangers help advise how best to look after vulnerable animals and give them a second chance at life
DSWF has been busy enabling rangers to remove traps and snares...
About 90% of wildlife caught in snares are simply left to rot. Snares are just pieces of wire, shaped in a loop and anchored down. They are cheap and easy to make - and virtually impossible for animals to escape from. As animals struggle to escape, the result is that the wire grows tighter. Wounds get deeper. The animal suffers a long, agonising death.
The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation funds ranger patrols in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda. Every day, these rangers remove thousands of traps and snares. Rangers report that as a result, they are now finding just one or two snares and traps whereas before, they would have removed hundreds. This makes the area much safer for wildlife.
The equipment used to make snares and traps are turned to good use for other purposes and crucially the money earned from them is put to fight poachers and make life safer for wildlife.
You can help support these brave rangers by giving to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s ongoing Appeal. Your help will enable the charity to train and equip more rangers to patrol these areas and you'll also help destroy the traps and snares found so that wildlife can't get trapped in them.
Donate by 12th September 2017, and a kind supporter will match the first £10,000 in donations. They will do this until the September date or until the £10,000 is reached, whichever happens first. You can use GiftAid in the UK to your unmatched donation.
African Parks celebrates World Ranger Day 