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WORLD RANGER DAY 2022 - RECOGNISING RANGERS DIVERSITY

On World Ranger Day we pause to celebrate the ranger profession and to pay tribute to those rangers who have laid down their lives in defence of Africa’s natural heritage.

In line with the theme for World Ranger Day this year we celebrate the diversity of our profession. The diversity in age, looks, gender, culture and nationality of Africa’s rangers. The diversity in the landscapes and communities in which rangers work. The diversity of the terrain, climate and altitudes where rangers work. The diversity of the species and ecosystems that rangers protect. The diversity of the skills and roles that rangers perform across the continent. The diversity of the organisations that employ rangers like governments, community organisations, NGOs and volunteer groups. In diversity lies our strength!

We pay special tribute to our colleague Ranger Anton Mzimba, Head of Ranger Services at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park who was brutally gunned down in his home on 26th July by assassins suspected to be linked to a rhino horn trafficking cartel. Anton’s wife was shot during the attack and critically injured. We hope and pray for her full and speedy recovery. Anton was the 295th ranger to be viciously murdered in Africa since 2011. A shocking statistic that highlights the odds against which many rangers work.

Anton was a leader in the African ranger community and his assassination marks a potential escalation in the lengths to which wildlife trafficking cartels will go to intimidate and discourage the conservation of rhinos, elephants, and all of Africa’s natural heritage.

A thorough investigation and aggressive prosecution of those involved in Anton Mzimba’s assassination is necessary to show rangers across the continent that they are supported, that their lives and wellbeing matter, and that our society has their backs. It will also tell wildlife trafficking networks that they cannot operate with impunity and that their actions have consequences. As the ranger community we will not be intimidated, and this tragedy will only increase our resolve to stand firm in defence of Africa’s biodiversity.

In 2022, Africa has experienced its worst year on record regarding ranger deaths. The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) has recorded 100 ranger deaths on the continent since June 2021, of which 95 were in the line of duty. This means that at least 565 African rangers have been killed in action since 2011. 295 of these rangers have been murdered by militia groups, terrorists and bandits in co-ordinated attacks or by poachers whilst protecting our wildlife and wild places. The International Ranger Federation (IRF) reports that at least 150 rangers have died worldwide in the last twelve months in the line of duty.

‘On World Ranger Day we acknowledge our fallen ranger colleagues across the world. We recognise, disturbingly, that many of these deaths have been at the hands of hardened criminals and thugs. We pay tribute to these rangers and their family members who have made tremendous sacrifices. We will remember you. To all our ranger colleagues across the globe, today is your day. You can be proud of the contribution you make to protect our planet. Happy World Ranger Day, we stand behind you today and always.” said Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of the GRAA.

Those wanting to contribute to the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa’s efforts to improve ranger safety and wellbeing can do so via the donation tab on our website. Click here.

To all our rangers colleagues across the globe, today is your day.

Happy World Ranger Day.

Rangers work against all odds protecting the things we love. This comes at a significant price as many rangers are killed in the line of duty whilst they work for nature. A recent survey of rangers conducted by the WWF showed that almost 80% of the 1742 respondents had faced a life-threatening encounter during their work. Rangers deserve more and as such the theme for World Ranger Day 2021 is focused on the need for improved ranger safety and wellbeing.

The International Ranger Federation (IRF) reports that at least 120 rangers have died worldwide in the last twelve months in the line of duty. Added to these deaths, the IRF notes that, shockingly, almost 500 rangers have succumbed to COVID-19 worldwide.

Africa has experienced its worst year in memory regarding ranger deaths. The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) has recorded 86 ranger deaths on the continent, of which 82 were in the line of duty. This means that at least 472 African rangers have been killed in action in the last decade. Over 51% of these rangers have been murdered by militia groups, terrorists and bandits in co-ordinated attacks or by poachers whilst protecting our wildlife and wild places. Sadly, we anticipate as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across our continent that the number of rangers who have died from COVID-19 will rise dramatically. It remains of utmost importance for rangers to take basic precautions like wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and washing their hands regularly. Most importantly rangers need to get vaccinated.

Rangers are frontline workers and deserve equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations. They conserve and protect the very health of our planet and its communities of wildlife and people. They deserve better and we call on both government, private and the NGO sector to ensure ranger health is prioritised as it should be alongside other frontline workers.

‘On World Ranger Day we acknowledge our fallen ranger colleagues across the world. We pay tribute to them and their family members who have made tremendous sacrifices that do not go unnoticed. Perhaps the greatest tribute we can pay to our colleagues involves more than just acknowledgement. We need commitments and ultimately actions to ensure improved ranger safety and wellbeing in the workplace to help prevent many of these deaths in the future,’ said Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of the GRAA.

With the theme of this year’s World Ranger Day being ranger safety and wellbeing, the GRAA has been focusing on our RangerCare initiative in the hopes of making a tangible difference to rangers on the ground by improving their wellbeing.

Currently, through a joint initiative with SATIB Insurance Brokers called RangerProtect, we support over 1500 rangers with accidental death, disability and medical evacuation cover. This is the largest policy of its kind in Africa. Costing just $45 per ranger per year, this provides financial support to the families of rangers killed in action and ensures rangers receive in-field support if they are injured to prevent death or serious injury.

The GRAA is also coordinating efforts with leading emergency and wilderness medicine specialists to improve the standards of ranger first aid training. In August, together with these partners we will be releasing the first edition of the Guidelines and Scope of Practice for African Rangers First Aid (ARFA). The intention is to assist governments, conservation groups, or other NGOs to develop appropriate curricula and trainings to reduce and minimize ranger deaths and disabilities. These guidelines will be important in improving the access rangers have to quality remote area first aid training that is both relevant and appropriate to their working conditions.

It is exciting to announce that in the interests of improving ranger safety, Meddev and Safeguard Medical will be embarking on a partnership with GRAA to support the roll out of quality first aid equipment for rangers. This will build on the existing partnership we have with specialist ranger first aid training provider Safe Ranger Africa who have trained hundreds of rangers in life saving skills. Initially 20 rangers will benefit from the next course where they will be issued with top quality individual first aid kits. In the coming months this partnership will develop a long term and sustainable roll out plan to support rangers with improved access to quality equipment.


“It is exciting to be able to share some good news on World Ranger Day. The RangerCare initiative is going from strength to strength and helps keep rangers safe in the field. Mental wellbeing is also important and initiatives to give rangers the recognition they deserve like the Rhino Conservation Awards are very important in boosting morale. This week we announced the finalists of this year’s awards and their incredible contributions to conservation are inspiring to us all. We are also extremely proud to be an organising partner of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge once again which will support over 5000 rangers as they grapple with the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.” added Campbell.

Those wanting to contribute to the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa’s efforts to improve ranger safety and wellbeing can do so via the donation tab on our website. Click here.

To all our rangers colleagues across the globe, today is your day.

Happy World Ranger Day.

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Over 90 rangers from 12 countries participated in the 2nd African Ranger Congress in Kasane, Botswana, from 14 -18 September 2022. It was organised by the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa (GRAA), endorsed by the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and supported by The Thin Green Line Foundation, Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA) and the Wildlife Ranger Challenge.

The Congress attracted rangers working for government, NGOs and community organisations from across Africa. It was a Congress by rangers, for rangers and about rangers that built networks, camaraderie, morale and celebrated ranger achievements during the African Conservation Awards.


We, the rangers of the African Ranger Congress, are committed to furthering the professionalisation of rangers which builds on the IRF Chitwan declaration and the URSA Action Plan. Whilst acknowledging previous commitments made, we call for the following actions to be undertaken by the global community and for them to hear our voices and help address our needs for the benefit of people and wildlife.


Increased advocacy, representation and recognition of the ranger sector:

  • Acknowledgement that the GRAA, as the IRF regional ranger representative body, be recognised as an independent point of reference for rangers that sets acceptable standards for the ranger sector using the best available knowledge.
  • Being guided by professionalism, the GRAA commits to acting with consequential responsibility, ethical dependency and integrity when interacting with the IRF, IUCN, URSA, national and international bodies for the benefit of rangers.

Improved and sustained ranger sector capacity building:

  • Recognition and support to build and sustain ranger sector capacity whilst creating a professional, effective and resilient ranger corps with the necessary safeguards in place.
  • We ask that the leadership potential amongst all rangers is recognised, and developed to ensure accountability and inspire the ranger corps towards a common purpose.

Better employment conditions and welfare:

  • Action to enhance ranger employment and welfare conditions, improving pride, trust and resiliency amongst the ranger workforce.
  • Improvement in support structures for all rangers including government, community and private sector rangers to improve their wellbeing - these should include, but not be limited to medical and life insurance schemes, legal support, trauma response for medical emergencies and professional counselling services, to support rangers and their families.
  • Ensure greater recognition for the families of rangers, acknowledgement of their support to rangers and establish systems to improve their wellbeing.
  • Respect and acknowledgement of the rights of all rangers to job security, fair remuneration, career development and progression as a way to improve resiliency against demoralisation and corruption.

Greater equality and equity in the ranger profession:

  • Realisation that equality can only be achieved in the ranger profession when fair and just conditions are available to all rangers. Recognition of the capabilities of all rangers, regardless of culture, race, religion, gender, and education to ensure equal opportunities for all.

Improved community relations, ranger conduct and accountability:

  • We urge all organisations employing rangers (including governments, NGOs and community organisations) to adapt, adopt and implement the IRF Code of Conduct to improve ranger conduct and accountability. We note that the rights of rangers should also be known and respected at all times.
  • Acknowledgement that rangers are not separate from communities and that they often come from local communities surrounding the conservation areas in which they work.
  • The creation of an atmosphere where communities see rangers as family through rangers’ good values as they conduct their critical and diverse work professionally, responsibly and accountably in a way that respects human rights.

For more information on the African Ranger Congress please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The African Ranger Congress was made possible by the following organisations and initiatives: GRAA, The Thin Green Line Foundation, International Ranger Federation, Wildlife Ranger Challenge, Universal Ranger Support Alliance, and the African Conservation Awards

The inaugural African Ranger Congress Declaration can be found here

Rangers face tremendous odds whilst undertaking their work protecting Africa’s remaining wild places. A recent survey of rangers conducted by the WWF showed that almost 80% of the 1742 respondents had faced a life-threatening encounter during their work.

Tragically, in the last 12 months at least 137 rangers have died worldwide according to the International Ranger Federation. The Game Rangers' Association of Africa (GRAA) has recorded 59 ranger deaths in Africa meaning that at least 384 African rangers have been killed in action since 2012. It must be remembered that these figures only reflect those deaths reported and actual estimates are thought to be significantly higher. 

‘On World Ranger Day we acknowledge our ranger colleagues who have fallen in the line of duty over the year. We also pay tribute to the family members left behind in neighbouring communities whenever a ranger is killed. It is our duty to ensure the sacrifices made by rangers and their families do not go unnoticed and for us to continue to support Africa’s rangers,’ said Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of the GRAA.

The GRAA through a joint initiative with SATIB Insurance Brokers called RangerProtect supports the accidental death, disability and medical evacuation cover of over 1500 rangers across Africa. Costing just $30 per ranger per year this insurance cover provides financial support to the families of rangers killed in action and ensures rangers receive in field support if they are injured.

With such perilous risks in the field it is easy for ranger morale to waver. Since 2012, the GRAA has facilitated the Rhino Conservation Awards to recognise their efforts and help motivate rangers in the field. On World Ranger Day we congratulate all the nominees, finalists and winners of these prestigious awards. You inspire us! The winners will be announced at 12h00 SAST (UTC+2) via our social media channels. Well done to you all!

Rangers need support and we are excited today to announce our involvement in a vital initiative to keep rangers supported as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across Africa. NATURAL STATE alongside organising partners Tusk Trust, GRAA, ForRangers, Global Wildlife Conservation, International Ranger Federation and the Thin Green Line Foundation are launching the Wildlife Ranger Challenge to help keep rangers in the field during these challenging times. The Scheinberg Relief Fund, the Challenge’s founding donor, has generously committed $5million of matching funds in support of rangers, with the goal of raising a total of $10 million and getting thousands of rangers back to full capacity.

More than 50 ranger teams across Africa will participate in a multi-million-dollar fundraising initiative to support the men and women across Africa’s protected areas who are enduring drastic cuts in salaries and resources due to the devastating economic impact of Covid-19 and yet are still working tirelessly to safeguard the continent’s iconic wildlife.

“This year it is exciting to be able to share some good news on World Ranger Day. Congratulations to all the nominees, finalists and winners of the Rhino Conservation Awards. Your amazing work does not go unnoticed! We are also extremely proud to be associated with the Wildlife Ranger Challenge which will support over 5000 rangers as they grapple with the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Well done to NATURAL STATE, Tusk Trust, the Scheinberg Relief Fund and all the other project partners in supporting rangers during this trying time and ensuring they can perform their essential services which benefits species, habitats, ecosystems and communities,” added Campbell.

 

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Please donate so we can continue to support Africa’s rangers

 

 

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