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Today (31 July) is World Rangers Day, a date to commemorate wildlife rangers killed on duty, and acknowledge the rangers’ vital contribution to the protection of endangered species such as elephants and white and black rhinos.
More wildlife rangers have been killed in the last 10 years than British and American military personnel. Over 1,000 have been killed since 2003.
Up to 100 elephants are killed by poachers every day. Data suggest that we have 10 to 15 years of elephants and rhinos left if they continue to be killed at the current rate.
22,000 rangers in Africa are on the front line of this conflict, which involves military tactics that are escalating all the time.
Rangers do dangerous work in difficult conditions, often lacking basic equipment such as boots and socks.
For Rangers is a charity that champions the rights of, and raises money for, wildlife rangers in Africa. Its volunteers take on some of the most difficult physical challenges on Earth, including running in the world’s toughest ultramarathons.
For Rangers founders Pete Newland and Sam Taylor’s day job is to train rangers in the skills needed for their difficult work. Both from military and conservation backgrounds, they have seen how a lack of basic kit makes the ranger’s lives even more dangerous.
This led them to start calling in favours from friends. Then, after a campfire discussion, they decided to start raising money by completing multi-day endurance events.
They have now raised over $500,000 in just two years, with over $600,000 of in-kind support. This incredible success has been achieved with just $27,000 of the founders’ own capital, and minimal promotion.
In March a producer from Love Nature, a new subscription Nature streaming service and MyGreenPod.com Hero, visited a training camp to film wildlife crime rangers in action – patrolling the Serepok River for illegal fishing, removing deadly snares from the forest, raiding a cooking camp suspected of selling illegal ‘wild meat’ and arresting a Vietnamese logging gang.
The documentary has been released today to mark World Ranger Day, and is available exclusively on Love Nature.
For Rangers looks after over 2,500 of the 22,000 rangers serving in Africa. The cost of adequately equipping a ranger is $500 a year. Pete and Sam therefore hope to secure $1,250,000 a year in order to meet the needs of the rangers the charity supports.
On average, five rangers are killed each year on For Rangers’ core conservancies. An endowment of £7.5 million would cover the education of up to three children, five years’ salary for each ranger killed and a sustainable initiative that will support their families in perpetuity.
The team has recently entered a new fundraising phase. For Rangers are now working towards planting their flag on the summit of Mount Everest in June 2019 in order to draw global attention to the work done by wildlife rangers. The amount needed for the expedition – for training, equipment and expedition fees – is in the region of $250,000.
For Rangers is looking for investors to be part of this project and its ongoing work, helping preserve some of the world’s most threatened wildlife by supporting those that put themselves in danger every day.
Donations to For Rangers can be made here.
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