Photo from the Game Ranger Association of Africa
An African elephant is poached for its ivory every 26 minutes, according to IFAW. The difference between life and death for these endangered animals is often a wildlife ranger.
However, being a ranger is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Recent survey showed that almost 80% had faced a life threatening encounter while protecting Africa’s remaining wild places.
On May 2022, a 36-year old field ranger in the Kruger National Park, Respect Mathebula, was tragically killed during a confrontation with a buffalo. Though it is an unfortunate loss, death amongst rangers are not rare occurrences. Since 2020, about 150 rangers have died during their duty from different and oftentimes gruesome circumstances. In 2021, our partner, the Game Ranger Association of Africa, recorded at least 15 rangers killed by poachers, militia, and terrorists. Many also die from illnesses bred from harsh working conditions.
Portrait of the recently killed KPN ranger, Respect Mathebula. Photo by UN Environment/GEF Rhino Project
“Very few people have the courage and necessary skills to perform the important undertaking other than Rangers.” the Acting Chief Executive of South African National Parks (SANParks), Dumisani Dlamini, remarked after the Mathebula’s death. To protect the endangered wildlife, many of these rangers put themselves between a bullet and an animal, sacrificing their lives for a cause that they believe in. Many forget that these rangers, though brave, are individuals with friends, families, and a community they belong to. Their deaths not only bring deep emotional distress, but also financial burden upon those around them.
There are currently 40,000 rangers worldwide, yet only 1,600 of them carry accident insurance. For only USD50 per annum, good cover can be bought to protect those who are protecting our wildlife. With your help, their families have something to fall back upon should something go wrong.
Sources:
https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2139
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/dangerous-job-south-african-wildlife-rangers-despite-new-technology
https://www.sapeople.com/2022/05/05/kruger-field-ranger-tragically-killed-during-confrontation-with-buffalo/